Every Major Wrestling World Title - Ranked From Least To Most Prestigious

6. Ring Of Honor World Championship

Adam Cole ROH champion
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Analogous to the PWG World Title, the Ring Of Honor World Championship is both commendation of in-ring achievement and a CV for its holders' mainstream sports entertainment future.

Its history is glorified through its grand influence over the mainstream world and awesome in-ring legacy alike; Samoa Joe and Bryan Danielson in particular enjoyed epic reigns that ultimately proved flattering the comparisons made between ROH and the '90s Japanese promotions to which it was indebted. Moreover, ROH, on an incredible creative tear throughout its mid-2000s critical height, did well to deviate from a somewhat dry formula by booking CM Punk to disrespect it ahead of his move to WWE. Depicting it as something sacred enough to draw the ire of its rabid fanbase was a ballsy move. It paid off; the belt only grew in prominence before the rather literal puro impressions of Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards overdid things.

In its present day incarnation, restored by the likes of Adam Cole and Jay Lethal, the sheer devotion and panache with which Cody clung to it renders it something akin to the realisation of a career-long dream, as opposed to a stepping stone to bigger things - even if the relatively underwhelming ROH in-ring standard is distant to the cult prestige of old.

How much that actually matters might be irrelevant; ROH is a rising business drawing record crowds.

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!