10 Wrestlers Who DOUBLED DOWN On Legendary Title Reigns

There was a time when the ROH World Championship was viewed as wrestling's most prestigious title. Nigel McGuinness, Bryan Danielson, and gobs more raised the heritage of what became the top independent prize in North American wrestling to such an extent that touching it was a sign of your immortality.

Jay Lethal, while World Television Champion, brought the World Championship back up to this level. Producing 27 successful defences across a 427-day stint, Lethal embodied the fighting spirit beautifully while maintaining his stance as the top heel in ROH. He made the title worth fighting for, framing it as an accolade from a real sport, rather than a fake belt from a fake sport placed upon him, rather than won.

He did the same, incredibly, throughout his second stint with the TV strap. Jay Lethal was an honest fighting champion - once more an atypical role, given his heel alignment - whose matches were regularly the best on the night during a time when ROH boasted a roster featuring AJ Styles, The Young Bucks, and KUSHIDA. So true to the belt's nature, Lethal defended the title across the United Kingdom and North America, protecting its integrity not as a secondary title, but as an equal to the ROH World Championship.