Athena has named Hyan as the opponent she wants next, challenging the Texas standout to meet her for the ROH Women’s Championship at ROH Final Battle on Friday, December 4.

The challenge was issued during the November 5 edition of ROH TV, as Athena continued to make it clear that she is prepared to dictate the terms of the competition around Ring of Honor’s women’s title. Final Battle is scheduled to take place in San Antonio, Texas, giving Hyan the opportunity to compete for the championship in her home state.

For Hyan, the proposed bout would represent her first chance to win the ROH Women’s Championship. For Athena, it would be another major defense in a reign that has moved far beyond the status of an ordinary title run.

Athena’s challenge puts Hyan in position for a career-defining match

During her appearance on ROH TV, Athena directly turned her attention toward Hyan while also addressing the figures around her. The champion put Diamante and Billie Starkz on notice, presenting Hyan as someone who could potentially bring fresh energy into MIT.

For more background on this topic, read ROH TV Results: Top Flight, Alec Price and Jordan Oliver Win Eight-Man Main Event.

“The Forever Champion” said Hyan could “breathe new life into MIT.”

The wording underlines the significance of the invitation. Athena is not merely looking for another opponent to add to her list of defenses. By selecting Hyan, she has placed a spotlight on a challenger who has not previously had a shot at the ROH Women’s Championship and who now has the chance to make a major statement on one of ROH’s marquee events.

There is also a natural element of familiarity to the location. Final Battle’s San Antonio setting gives Hyan a prominent platform in Texas, a state closely associated with her wrestling career. A championship opportunity is meaningful regardless of venue, but the possibility of challenging for the title in front of a Texas crowd adds another layer to the moment.

Hyan has not yet been formally listed as the challenger in a completed championship match announcement, but Athena’s on-screen callout established the direction the champion wants to take heading into Final Battle. The ball is now in Hyan’s court as the event approaches.

The ROH Women’s title has been defined by Athena’s extraordinary reign

Any wrestler stepping up to Athena is facing a champion with an exceptional level of momentum. Athena won the ROH Women’s Championship at ROH Final Battle 2022, and by the time of her November 5 challenge, she had held the title for more than 1,400 days.

That longevity is central to Athena’s identity as champion. Her “Forever Champion” moniker is not simply branding; it reflects a title reign that has lasted for years and has become one of the defining stories in the modern history of Ring of Honor’s women’s division.

Athena has also embraced the “Fallen Goddess” identity throughout her time at the top of the division. Together, those descriptions portray a champion who views the belt as a permanent part of her place in ROH. The longer the reign continues, the greater the pressure on every incoming challenger. Hyan would not only be trying to win a championship for the first time; she would be attempting to end a reign that has endured since 2022.

That is an enormous proposition, particularly at Final Battle. The annual event carries considerable weight on the ROH calendar, and Athena’s history with the show makes the potential matchup especially notable. She captured the championship at Final Battle, and a defense against Hyan would bring her back to that event with the title still in her possession.

For a challenger, facing a reigning champion is always a difficult task. Facing Athena means dealing with the accumulated confidence of someone who has retained the championship through a lengthy and celebrated tenure. Hyan’s lack of a prior ROH Women’s Championship opportunity could be seen as a disadvantage in terms of experience at this specific level, but it also gives her an opportunity to enter the match without the baggage of previous failures against the champion.

Diamante and Billie Starkz remain part of the conversation

Athena did not limit her message solely to Hyan. Diamante and Billie Starkz were also specifically put on notice, making clear that the champion sees the broader situation around the potential Final Battle match as important.

The mention of Starkz is particularly notable given the established association between Athena and MIT. Athena’s comments suggested that Hyan could alter the group’s direction or energy, while simultaneously warning those already connected to the situation that they should take notice of what may be developing.

At this stage, there is no additional announced match involving Diamante or Starkz for Final Battle, nor has a specific role for either been confirmed in relation to Athena’s challenge to Hyan. Still, their inclusion in the champion’s remarks means they cannot be ignored as the December 4 event draws closer.

In professional wrestling, a title challenge can be as much about the environment around the champion as the challenger standing across the ring. Athena’s decision to mention multiple names creates questions about whether the anticipated championship confrontation will remain a straightforward one-on-one encounter in focus, even if the title itself is the central prize.

What a Hyan title shot would mean

Hyan’s first ROH Women’s Championship opportunity would be a milestone regardless of the outcome. Title matches offer wrestlers a chance to show they belong in the highest tier of a division, and the stakes are elevated further when the opponent is a champion whose reign has lasted more than 1,400 days.

Winning would immediately make Hyan the wrestler who ended Athena’s remarkable run and would establish a new chapter for the championship. Even in defeat, a strong showing against a champion of Athena’s standing could give Hyan a major platform within ROH.

However, Hyan’s task is not simply to have an impressive performance. Athena has made clear over the course of her reign that she expects challengers to come prepared to fight for everything. Her public challenge carries an implicit demand: if Hyan accepts, she will be expected to prove she is ready for the relentless standard Athena has set.

The potential contest also gives ROH a compelling contrast heading into Final Battle. On one side is the entrenched titleholder, confident in the strength and duration of her reign. On the other is a challenger pursuing her first opportunity at the championship, with the added motivation of performing in Texas.

That kind of contrast is often what makes a championship program resonate. The champion has a legacy to preserve. The challenger has a breakthrough moment to chase. In this case, Athena’s legacy is already substantial, while Hyan’s opportunity is still waiting to be fully secured.

Final Battle date and location

ROH Final Battle is set for Friday, December 4 in San Antonio, Texas. Athena’s challenge has put Hyan at the center of the build toward the event, with the ROH Women’s Championship potentially set to be defended against a first-time title challenger.

Athena has held the title since Final Battle 2022 and remains determined to extend a reign that has passed 1,400 days. Hyan now has the chance to answer the call and pursue the biggest match of her ROH career.

With Diamante and Billie Starkz also drawn into Athena’s message, the road to San Antonio has gained another point of intrigue. The champion has spoken. The next question is whether Hyan will accept the challenge and attempt to do what no challenger has managed to do for years: take the ROH Women’s Championship away from Athena.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.