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Survival of the Fittest is a professional wrestling tournament held by Ring of Honor (ROH). The inaugural tournament took place in 2004, and - with exceptions (2008, 2013, 2019–2020, 2022) - has become an annual tradition in ROH ever since.[1]
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Wrestlers compete in a variety of "qualifying" matches, usually either singles matches or tag team matches, with the winner(s) of each match advancing to an elimination match where the last remaining competitor would be deemed the Survival of the Fittest winner, and receive a future ROH World Championship match (except the 2023 and 2024 tournament winner will be crowned ROH World Television Championship).[1]
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The tournament setup is based on Maryland Championship Wrestling's Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup, as ROH was to continue the Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup following the shutdown of MCW in 2003. However, following a controversy with ROH's owner in early 2004, MCW dropped their association with Ring of Honor, and ROH renamed the already scheduled tournament "Survival of the Fittest".[2][3] [4]
In 2019, it was announced the event would take place on November 9 and 10, but the shows were ultimately cancelled.[5]
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- 2004 – Bryan Danielson[1]
- 2005 – Roderick Strong[1]
- 2006 – Delirious[1]
- 2007 – Chris Hero[1]
- 2009 – Tyler Black[1]
- 2010 – Eddie Edwards[1]
- 2011 – Michael Elgin[1]
- 2012 – Jay Lethal[6]
- 2014 – Adam Cole
- 2015 – Michael Elgin (2)
- 2016 – Bobby Fish
- 2017 – Punishment Martinez
- 2018 – Marty Scurll
- 2021 – Bandido
- 2023 – Kyle Fletcher
- 2024 – Komander
Championship match for winner
- – Championship victory
- – Championship match loss
- – Championship match draw/no contest
| # | Winner | Event | Year | Championship match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bryan Danielson | Midnight Express Reunion | 2004 | Danielson unsuccessfully challenged Samoa Joe for the ROH World Championship. |
| 2 | Roderick Strong | This Means War | 2005 | Strong unsuccessfully challenged Bryan Danielson for the ROH World Championship. |
| 3 | Delirious | Honor Reclaims Boston | 2006 | Delirious unsuccessfully challenged Bryan Danielson for the ROH World Championship. |
| 4 | Chris Hero | Glory By Honor IV - Night 1 | 2007 | Hero unsuccessfully challenged Nigel McGuinness for the ROH World Championship. |
| 5 | Tyler Black | Final Battle | 2009 | Black wrestled ROH World Champion Austin Aries to a sixty-minute time limit draw. Black defeated Aries in a rematch to win the ROH World Championship at the 8th Anniversary Show. |
| 6 | Eddie Edwards | Manhattan Mayhem IV | 2010 | Edwards defeated Roderick Strong to win the ROH World Championship. |
| 7 | Michael Elgin | Showdown in the Sun - Night 2 | 2011 | Elgin unsuccessfully challenged Davey Richards for the ROH World Championship. |
| 8 | Jay Lethal | 11th Anniversary Show | 2012 | Lethal unsuccessfully challenged Kevin Steen for the ROH World Championship. |
| 9 | Adam Cole | Final Battle | 2014 | Cole unsuccessfully challenged Jay Briscoe in a Fight Without Honor for the ROH World Championship. |
| 10 | Michael Elgin (2) | All Star Extravaganza VIII | 2015 | Elgin unsuccessfully challenged Adam Cole for the ROH World Championship. |
| 11 | Bobby Fish | Manhattan Mayhem | 2016 | Fish unsuccessfully challenged Adam Cole for the ROH World Championship. |
| 12 | Punishment Martinez | Ring of Honor Wrestling (February 10, 2018) | 2017 | Martinez unsuccessfully challenged Dalton Castle for the ROH World Championship. |
| 13 | Marty Scurll | G1 Supercard | 2018 | Scurll challenged Jay Lethal in a three-way ladder match for the ROH World Championship, also involving Matt Taven. Taven won the match. |
| 14 | Bandido | Best in the World | 2021 | Bandido defeated Rush to win the ROH World Championship. |
| 15 | Kyle Fletcher | Final Battle | 2023 | Survivor of the Fittest for the vacant ROH Television Championship. Fletcher defeated Komander, Lee Moriarty, Bryan Keith, Dalton Castle and Lee Johnson to win the championship. |
| 16 | Komander | Final Battle | 2024 |
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2004
ROH's first Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on June 24, 2004 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[3][7]
- Qualifying match: Mark Briscoe defeated Alex Shelley to advance
- Qualifying match: Colt Cabana defeated Trent Acid to advance
- Qualifying match: Generation Next (Austin Aries and Roderick Strong) defeated John Walters and Josh Daniels
- This match was originally scheduled to be a singles match between Walters and Aries, but was changed to a tag team match after Generation Next attacked Walters.
- As a result of scoring the victory, Aries advances to the finals.
- Qualifying match: Homicide defeated Jay Briscoe to advance
- Qualifying match: Bryan Danielson defeated Jack Evans to advance
- Qualifying match: Samoa Joe defeated Matt Stryker to advance
- Final match: Bryan Danielson defeated Austin Aries, Colt Cabana, Homicide, Mark Briscoe and Samoa Joe in a Six-Way Elimination match to win Survival of the Fittest
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samoa Joe | Colt Cabana | Pinned with a sunset flip | 15:22 |
| 2 | Colt Cabana | Mark Briscoe | Pinned after a shooting star press | 17:06 |
| 3 | Homicide | Mark Briscoe | Both men pinned each other | 19:05 |
| 4 | Mark Briscoe | Homicide | ||
| 5 | Austin Aries | Bryan Danielson | Submitted to an Elevated Boston crab | 42:28 |
| Winner | Bryan Danielson | — | ||
2005
ROH's second Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on September 24, 2005 in Boston, Massachusetts.[7][8]
- Qualifying match: Jay Lethal defeated Sal Rinauro to advance
- Qualifying match: Colt Cabana defeated Ricky Reyes to advance
- Qualifying match: Austin Aries defeated Jimmy Rave by disqualification to advance
- Qualifying match: Samoa Joe defeated Milano Collection A.T. to advance
- Qualifying match: Roderick Strong defeated Jerrelle Clark to advance
- Qualifying match: Christopher Daniels defeated James Gibson to advance
- Final match: Roderick Strong defeated Austin Aries, Christopher Daniels, Colt Cabana, Jay Lethal and Samoa Joe in a Six-Way Elimination match to win Survival of the Fittest.
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samoa Joe | Roderick Strong | Pinned after the Best Moonsault Ever by Daniels onto Joe | 13:57 |
| 2 | Christopher Daniels | Austin Aries | Pinned with a sunset flip | 19:12 |
| 3 | Jay Lethal | Roderick Strong | Pinned after Death by Roderick | 31:23 |
| 4 | Colt Cabana | Pinned after a pildedriver | 35:51 | |
| 5 | Austin Aries | Submitted to the Stronghold | 50:30 | |
| Winner | Roderick Strong | — | ||
2006
ROH's third Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on October 6, 2006 in Cleveland, Ohio.[7][9]
- Qualifying match: Matt Sydal defeated Davey Richards to advance
- Qualifying match: Delirious defeated Jimmy Rave to advance
- Qualifying match: Austin Aries defeated Christopher Daniels to advance
- Qualifying match: The Briscoe Brothers (Jay and Mark) defeated Homicide and Roderick Strong to advance
- Qualifying match: Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe ended in a 20-minute time limit draw
- As a result of a draw, neither wrestler advances
- Final match: Delirious defeated Austin Aries, Jay Briscoe, Mark Briscoe and Matt Sydal in a Five-Way Elimination match to win Survival of the Fittest.
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin Aries | Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe | Pinned after a Doomsday Device | 11:17 |
| 2 | Jay Briscoe | Matt Sydal | Pinned with a roll-up | 19:04 |
| 3 | Mark Briscoe | Pinned after the Shooting Sydal Press | 23:06 | |
| 4 | Matt Sydal | Delirious | Submitted to the Cobra Stretch | 34:51 |
| Winner | Delirious | — | ||
2007
ROH's fourth Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on October 19, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada.[7][10]
- Qualifying match: Roderick Strong defeated Brent Albright to advance
- Qualifying match: Chris Hero defeated Karl Anderson to advance
- Qualifying match: Rocky Romero defeated T. J. Perkins to advance
- Qualifying match: Austin Aries defeated Delirious to advance
- Qualifying match: Claudio Castagnoli defeated Davey Richards to advance
- Qualifying match: Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness ended in a 20-minute time limit draw
- As a result of a draw, neither wrestler advances.
- Qualifying match: Human Tornado defeated Shane Hagadorn and Tony Kozina
- This was originally scheduled as a non-tournament match, but turned into one as a result of Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuinness wrestling to a draw.
- Survival of the Fittest: Chris Hero defeated Austin Aries, Claudio Castagnoli, Human Tornado, Rocky Romero and Roderick Strong in a Six-Way Elimination match to win Survival of the Fittest.
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Human Tornado | Chris Hero | Pinned after the Hero's Welcome | 3:58 |
| 2 | Rocky Romero | Pinned after a 450° splash from Aries onto Romero | 13:32 | |
| 3 | Austin Aries | Pinned with a roll-up | 15:38 | |
| 4 | Colt Cabana | Pinned after the Hero's Welcome | 35:51 | |
| 5 | Claudio Castagnoli | Passed out in the Hangman's Clutch | 50:30 | |
| Winner | Chris Hero | — | ||
2009
ROH's fifth Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on October 10, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana.[7][11]
- Due to his performance in an ROH World Championship match the night before, ROH Executive Producer Jim Cornette gave Delirious a bye into the finals of the tournament.
- Qualifying match: Roderick Strong defeated Rhett Titus to advance
- Qualifying match: Tyler Black defeated Kenny King to advance
- Qualifying match: Colt Cabana defeated Kevin Steen to advance
- Qualifying match: Claudio Castagnoli defeated Petey Williams to advance
- Qualifying match: Chris Hero defeated Kenny Omega to advance
- Final match: Tyler Black defeated Chris Hero, Colt Cabana, Claudio Castagnoli, Delirious and Roderick Strong in a Six-Way Elimination match to win Survival of the Fittest.
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Claudio Castagnoli | Colt Cabana | Pinned after a rolling elbow by Hero to Castagnoli | 23:00 |
| 2 | Colt Cabana | Delirious | Pinned with a roll-up | 23:05 |
| 3 | Delirious | Roderick Strong | Pinned after the Sick Kick | 24:59 |
| 4 | Chris Hero | Tyler Black | Pinned with God's Last Gift | 28:38 |
| 5 | Roderick Strong | Pinned after the Avada Kedavra | 39:36 | |
| Winner | Tyler Black | — | ||
2010
ROH's sixth Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on November 12, 2010 in Dearborn, Michigan.[7][12]
- Qualifying match: Rhett Titus defeated Colt Cabana to advance
- Qualifying match: Claudio Castagnoli defeated Grizzly Redwood to advance
- Qualifying match: Kevin Steen defeated Kyle O'Reilly to advance
- Qualifying match: Adam Cole defeated Steve Corino to advance
- Qualifying match: Eddie Edwards defeated Chris Hero to advance
- Qualifying match: Kenny King defeated El Generico to advance
- Final match: Eddie Edwards defeated Adam Cole, Claudio Castagnoli, Kenny King, Kevin Steen and Rhett Titus in a Six-Way Elimination match to win Survival of the Fittest
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Steen | Claudio Castagnoli | Pinned after a bicycle kick | 0:08 |
| 2 | Adam Cole | Pinned after a lariat | 9:19 | |
| 3 | Rhett Titus | Pinned after a pop-up European uppercut | 12:18 | |
| 4 | Claudio Castagnoli | Kenny King | Pinned after the Royal Flush | 14:23 |
| 5 | Kenny King | Eddie Edwards | Submitted to an Achilles lock | 16:12 |
| Winner | Eddie Edwards | — | ||
2011
ROH's seventh Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on November 18, 2011 at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Dayton, Ohio.[13][14]
- Qualifying match: The Briscoe Brothers (Jay and Mark) defeated The Bravado Brothers (Lancelot and Harlem) to advance
- Qualifying match: Kyle O'Reilly defeated Andy Ridge to advance
- Qualifying match: Eddie Edwards defeated Mike Bennett to advance
- Qualifying match: Michael Elgin defeated Adam Cole, Kenny King and Tommaso Ciampa in a Four Corner Survival match to advance
- Qualifying match: Roderick Strong defeated Rhett Titus to advance
- Final match: Michael Elgin defeated Eddie Edwards, Jay Briscoe, Kyle O'Reilly, Mark Briscoe and Roderick Strong in a Six-Way Elimination match to win Survival of the Fittest
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jay Briscoe | Eddie Edwards | Pinned after Die Hard | 18:21 |
| 2 | Mark Briscoe | Submitted to a dragon sleeper | 18:37 | |
| 3 | Roderick Strong | Pinned with a schoolboy | 20:41 | |
| 4 | Eddie Edwards | Michael Elgin | Pinned after a spinning back fist / lariat combo | 20:58 |
| 5 | Kyle O'Reilly | Pinned after the Elgin Bomb | 33:19 | |
| Winner | Michael Elgin | — | ||
2012
ROH's eighth Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on September 22, 2012 at the Du Burns Arena in Baltimore, Maryland. The tournament was recorded in a single day for Ring of Honor's television show, and aired on a taped delay over the span of several weeks.[1][6][15]
- Qualifying match: Adam Cole defeated TaDarius Thomas to advance
- Qualifying match: Davey Richards defeated Mike Bennett to advance
- Qualifying match: Jay Lethal defeated Q. T. Marshall to advance
- Qualifying match: Roderick Strong defeated Homicide to advance
- Qualifying match: Mike Mondo defeated Kyle O'Reilly to advance
- Qualifying match: Michael Elgin defeated Rhino to advance
- Final match: Jay Lethal defeated Adam Cole, Davey Richards, Michael Elgin, Mike Mondo and Roderick Strong in a Six-Way Elimination match to win Survival of the Fittest
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mike Mondo | Roderick Strong | Pinned after the Sick Kick | 4:49 |
| 2 | Roderick Strong | Adam Cole | Pinned after a superkick | 6:41 |
| 3 | Adam Cole | Michael Elgin | Pinned after the Elgin Bomb | 7:32 |
| 4 | Michael Elgin | Jay Lethal and Davey Richards | Double pinned after both men hit him with a Buzzsaw Kick | 13:32 |
| 5 | Davey Richards | Jay Lethal | Pinned after the Lethal Injection | 21:26 |
| Winner | Jay Lethal | — | ||
2014
ROH's ninth Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on November 8, 2014 at the Seagate Convention Center in Toledo, Ohio. The tournament took place over a span of 2 days.
- Qualifying match: Tommaso Ciampa defeated Will Ferrara to advance
- Qualifying match: Roderick Strong defeated TaDarius Thomas to advance
- Qualifying match: Adam Page defeated Cedric Alexander to advance
- Qualifying match: Adam Cole defeated Delirious to advance
- Qualifying match: Hanson defeated Jay Lethal to advance
- Qualifying match: Matt Sydal defeated A. C. H. to advance
- Final match: Adam Cole defeated Adam Page, Hanson, Matt Sydal, Roderick Strong, and Tommaso Ciampa in a Six-Way Elimination match to win Survival of the Fittest
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roderick Strong | Adam Page | Pinned with a roll-up | 17:08 |
| 2 | Adam Page | Matt Sydal | Pinned after the Shooting Sydal Press | 21:10 |
| 3 | Matt Sydal | Tommaso Ciampa | Pinned after Project Ciampa | 31:13 |
| 4 | Tommaso Ciampa | Adam Cole | Pinned after Michael Elgin hit Ciampa with a steel chair | 32:03 |
| 5 | Hanson | Pinned after the Florida Keys | 40:50 | |
| Winner | Adam Cole | — | ||
2015
2016
2017
2018
2021
ROH announced the tournament would return in 2021, taking place throughout the month of June on ROH's flagship TV program Ring of Honor Wrestling, and their online show ROH Week by Week.
There were 12 participants competing in six qualifying matches, with the winners advancing to a six-way elimination finals (aired June 26 on Ring of Honor Wrestling) where the winner received an ROH World Championship match at Best in the World.[16]
- Qualifying match: June 5 Ring of Honor Wrestling – Demonic Flamita defeated Rey Horus
- Qualifying match: June 8 ROH Week by Week – Brian Johnson defeated Sledge
- Qualifying match: June 12 Ring of Honor Wrestling – Eli Isom defeated Dak Draper
- Qualifying match: June 15 ROH Week by Week – Chris Dickinson defeated O'Shay Edwards
- Qualifying match: June 19 Ring of Honor Wrestling – Bandido defeated Bateman
- Qualifying match: June 22 ROH Week by Week – Rhett Titus defeated Danhausen
- Final match: June 26 Ring of Honor Wrestling – Bandido defeated Brian Johnson, Chris Dickinson, Demonic Flamita, Eli Isom, and Rhett Titus in a Six-Way Elimination match to win Survival of the Fittest
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Demonic Flamita | Bandido | Pinned with a roll-up | 4:50 |
| 2 | Brian Johnson | Rhett Titus | Pinned after the King Kong Knee Drop | 12:56 |
| 3 | Rhett Titus | Chris Dickinson | Submitted to a kneebar | 13:27 |
| 4 | Chris Hero | Bandido | Pinned after the 21-Plex | 18:56 |
| 5 | Eli Isom | Submitted to an omoplata | 23:51 | |
| Winner | Bandido | — | ||
Note - In late 2021, ROH was sold to Tony Khan, the owner and general manager of All Elite Wrestling (AEW), and with that ROH was then effectively absorbed into AEW.
2023
On the November 8, 2023 episode of AEW Dynamite, Samoa Joe, who had held the ROH World Television Championship for a record 574 days, voluntarily vacated the title to concentrate on pursuing the AEW World Championship.
Tony Khan announced a week later on Ring of Honor Wrestling that Survival of the Fittest would return and be used in crowning a new champion. Qualifying matches took place on ROH Wrestling, leading up to the six-way finals on December 15 at Final Battle, with the winner becoming the new ROH World Television Champion. This was the first Survival of the Fittest where a championship was on the line rather than an opportunity at one, and the first where it was contested for the ROH World Television Champions rather than the ROH World Championship.[17]
Qualifying matches:
- November 22 (aired November 30): Komander defeated Gringo Loco
- November 22 (aired November 30): Dalton Castle defeated Evil Uno
- December 2 (aired December 7): Kyle Fletcher defeated Gravity
- December 2 (aired December 7): Lee Johnson defeated Josh Woods
- December 2 (aired December 7): Lee Moriarty defeated Tracy Williams
- December 15 (Final Battle Zero Hour): Bryan Keith defeated Jack Cartwheel
Finals:
- December 15 (Final Battle): Kyle Fletcher defeated Bryan Keith, Dalton Castle, Komander, Lee Johnson, and Lee Moriarty in a Six-Way Elimination match to win Survival of the Fittest and the vacant ROH World Television Championship
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lee Johnson | Lee Moriarty | Submitted to the Border City Stretch | 8:46 |
| 2 | Dalton Castle | Pinned after The Fang | 11:20 | |
| 3 | Lee Moriarty | Bryan Keith | Pinned after the Emerald Tiger Driver | 15:38 |
| 4 | Bryan Keith | Kyle Fletcher | Pinned after the Grimstone | 16:52 |
| 5 | Komander | 25:54 | ||
| Winner | Kyle Fletcher | — | ||
2024 July
On July 25, Tony Khan announced a Survival of the Fittest match for the following day's Death Before Dishonor event, where ROH World Television Champion Atlantis Jr. would defend his title against Brian Cage, Johnny TV, Lee Johnson, Lio Rush, and Shane Taylor. This would be the first Survival of the Fittest where none of the participants had qualifying matches and the first in which a championship was defended.[18]
- Atlantis Jr. (c) defeated Brian Cage, Johnny TV, Lee Johnson, Lio Rush, and Shane Taylor in a Six-Way Elimination match to win Survival of the Fittest and retain the ROH World Television Championship
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method of elimination | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shane Taylor | Lio Rush | Pinned after The Final Hour | 9:56 |
| 2 | Lio Rush | Lee Johnson | Pinned after the Big Shot Drop | 11:32 |
| 3 | Lee Johnson | Brian Cage and Johnny TV | Double pinned after a powerslam / springboard kick combo | 15:05 |
| 4 | Johnny TV | Brian Cage | Pinned after the Drill Claw | 18:39 |
| 5 | Brian Cage | Atlantis Jr. | Pinned with a victory roll | 19:12 |
| Winner | Atlantis Jr. (c) | — | ||
2024 December
On December 13, ROH announced another Survival of the Fittest match for the ROH World Television Championship, this time for Final Battle. Here, champion Brian Cage would defend the title against Willie Mack, Mark Davis, Komander, AR Fox, and Blake Christian.[19]
- Komander defeated Brian Cage (c), Willie Mack, Mark Davis, AR Fox, and Blake Christian in a Six-Way Elimination match to win the ROH World Television Championship.
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method of elimination | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Willie Mack | Brian Cage | Pinned after the Tornado Claw | 9:32 |
| 2 | AR Fox | Pinned after an avalanche powerbomb | 13:27 | |
| 3 | Brian Cage | Mark Davis | Pinned after a piledriver | 16:38 |
| 4 | Mark Davis | Blake Christian | Pinned after a low blow | 17:02 |
| 5 | Blake Christian | Komander | Pinned after Cielito Lindo | 25:19 |
| Winner | Komander | — | ||
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