Ring of Honor will be without one of its cornerstones for the next several weeks. According to Fightful Select, reigning ROH Women’s World Champion Athena is expected to step away from in-ring action for around five to six weeks. The exact reason for her hiatus hasn’t been disclosed.

The timing is notable, as “The Fallen Goddess” just hit a major milestone in her reign. Days after successfully defending her title against Mina Shirakawa at Death Before Dishonor on August 29, Athena officially surpassed 1,000 days as ROH Women’s Champion. She first captured the gold in December 2022 and has since built one of the most dominant legacies in the brand’s modern era.

During her reign, Athena has remained unbeaten in ROH-sanctioned singles competition, boasting a staggering 69-0 record. Along the way, she’s turned back challenges from names like Billie Starkz, Queen Aminata, Thunder Rosa, Alex Windsor, and Hikaru Shida. Her dominance even extended beyond ROH, as she recently tested herself against AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm at Forbidden Door. While Storm walked away victorious in their crossover clash, Athena’s showing further solidified her standing among the elite of women’s wrestling.

With Athena temporarily out of action, questions naturally turn to how Ring of Honor will handle her absence. Given her iron grip on the division, this break could open the door for challengers to emerge — or simply allow Athena to return refreshed and ready to extend her historic run even further.

Regardless, surpassing 1,000 days as champion cements Athena’s reign as one of the most dominant in modern wrestling, and her return will be a major moment for both ROH and AEW fans alike.