Survival of the Fittest is an annual professional wrestling tournament held by Ring of Honor. The inaugural tournament took place in 2004, and, with the exception of 2008 and 2013, the event has occurred every year since.
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.
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".
2004 – Bryan Danielson2005 – Roderick Strong2006 – Delirious2007 – Chris Hero2009 – Tyler Black2010 – Eddie Edwards2011 – Michael Elgin2012 – Jay Lethal2014 – Adam Cole2015 – Michael Elgin2016 – Bobby FishROH's first Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on June 24, 2004 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Qualifying match: Mark Briscoe defeated Alex Shelley to advanceQualifying match: Colt Cabana defeated Trent Acid to advanceQualifying match: Generation Next (Austin Aries and Roderick Strong) defeated John Walters and Josh DanielsThis 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 advanceQualifying match: Bryan Danielson defeated Jack Evans to advanceQualifying match: Samoa Joe defeated Matt Stryker to advanceFinal 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 FittestSamoa Joe was eliminated by Colt CabanaColt Cabana was eliminated by Mark BriscoeMark Brisoce and Homicide eliminated each other by double pinfallAustin Aries was eliminated by Bryan DanielsonROH's second Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on September 24, 2005 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Qualifying match: Jay Lethal defeated Sal Rinauro to advanceQualifying match: Colt Cabana defeated Ricky Reyes to advanceQualifying match: Austin Aries defeated Jimmy Rave by disqualification to advanceQualifying match: Samoa Joe defeated Milano Collection A.T. to advanceQualifying match: Roderick Strong defeated Jerrelle Clark to advanceQualifying match: Christopher Daniels defeated James Gibson to advanceFinal 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.Samoa Joe was eliminated by Roderick StrongChristopher Daniels was eliminated by Austin AriesJay Lethal was eliminated by Roderick StrongColt Cabana was eliminated by Roderick StrongAustin Aries was eliminated by Roderick StrongROH's third Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on October 6, 2006 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Qualifying match: Matt Sydal defeated Davey Richards to advanceQualifying match: Delirious defeated Jimmy Rave to advanceQualifying match: Austin Aries defeated Christopher Daniels to advanceQualifying match: The Briscoe Brothers (Jay and Mark Briscoe) defeated Homicide and Roderick Strong to advanceQualifying match: Bryan Danielson vs. Samoa Joe ended in a 20 minute time limit drawAs a result of a draw, neither wrestler advancesFinal match: Delirious defeated Austin Aries, Jay Briscoe, Mark Briscoe and Matt Sydal in a Five-Way Elimination match to win Survival of the Fittest.Austin Aries was eliminated by Jay BriscoeJay Briscoe was eliminated by Matt SydalMark Briscoe was eliminated by Matt SydalMatt Sydal was eliminated by DeliriousROH's fourth Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on October 19, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Qualifying match: Roderick Strong defeated Brent Albright to advanceQualifying match: Chris Hero defeated Karl Anderson to advanceQualifying match: Rocky Romero defeated TJ Perkins to advanceQualifying match: Austin Aries defeated Delirious to advanceQualifying match: Claudio Castagnoli defeated Davey Richards to advanceQualifying match: Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness ended in a 20 minute time limit drawAs a result of a draw, neither wrestler advances.Qualifying match: Human Tornado defeated Shane Hagadorn and Tony KozinaThis 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.Human Tornado was eliminated by Chris HeroRocky Romero was eliminated by Chris HeroAustin Aries was eliminated by Chris HeroRoderick Strong was eliminated by Chris HeroClaudio Castagnoli was eliminated by Chris HeroROH's fifth Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on October 10, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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 advanceQualifying match: Tyler Black defeated Kenny King to advanceQualifying match: Colt Cabana defeated Kevin Steen to advanceQualifying match: Claudio Castagnoli defeated Petey Williams to advanceQualifying match: Chris Hero defeated Kenny Omega to advanceFinal 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.Claudio Castagnoli was eliminated by Colt CabanaColt Cabana was eliminated by DeliriousDelirious was eliminated by Roderick StrongChris Hero was eliminated by Tyler BlackRoderick Strong was eliminated by Tyler BlackROH's sixth Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on November 12, 2010 in Dearborn, Michigan.
Qualifying match: Rhett Titus defeated Colt Cabana to advanceQualifying match: Claudio Castagnoli defeated Grizzly Redwood to advanceQualifying match: Kevin Steen defeated Kyle O'Reilly to advanceQualifying match: Adam Cole defeated Steve Corino to advanceQualifying match: Eddie Edwards defeated Chris Hero to advanceQualifying match: Kenny King defeated El Generico to advanceFinal 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 FittestKevin Steen was eliminated by Claudio CastagnoliAdam Cole was eliminated by Claudio CastagnoliRhett Titus was eliminated by Claudio CastagnoliClaudio Castagnoli was eliminated by Kenny KingKenny King was eliminated by Eddie EdwardsROH's seventh Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on November 18, 2011 at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Dayton, Ohio.
Qualifying match: The Briscoe Brothers (Jay and Mark Briscoe) defeated The Bravado Brothers (Lancelot and Harlem Bravado) to advanceQualifying match: Kyle O'Reilly defeated Andy Ridge to advanceQualifying match: Eddie Edwards defeated Mike Bennett to advanceQualifying match: Michael Elgin defeated Adam Cole, Kenny King and Tommaso Ciampa in a Four Corner Survival match to advanceQualifying match: Roderick Strong defeated Rhett Titus to advanceFinal 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 FittestJay Briscoe was eliminated by Eddie EdwardsMark Briscoe was eliminated by Eddie EdwardsRoderick Strong was eliminated by Eddie EdwardsEddie Edwards was eliminated by Michael ElginKyle O'Reilly was eliminated by Michael ElginROH'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.
Qualifying match: Adam Cole defeated TaDarius Thomas to advanceQualifying match: Davey Richards defeated Mike Bennett to advanceQualifying match: Jay Lethal defeated QT Marshall to advanceQualifying match: Roderick Strong defeated Homicide to advanceQualifying match: Mike Mondo defeated Kyle O'Reilly to advanceQualifying match: Michael Elgin defeated Rhino to advanceFinal 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 FittestMike Mondo was eliminated by Roderick StrongRoderick Strong was eliminated by Adam ColeAdam Cole was eliminated by Michael ElginMichael Elgin was eliminated by Davey Richards and Jay LethalDavey Richards was eliminated by Jay LethalROH'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 advanceQualifying match: Roderick Strong defeated TaDarius Thomas to advanceQualifying match: Adam Page defeated Cedric Alexander to advanceQualifying match: Adam Cole defeated Delirious to advanceQualifying match: Hanson defeated Jay Lethal to advanceQualifying match: Matt Sydal defeated ACH to advanceFinal 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 FittestRoderick Strong was eliminated by Adam PageAdam Page was eliminated by Matt SydalMatt Sydal was eliminated by Tommaso CiampaTommaso Ciampa was eliminated by Adam ColeHanson was eliminated by Adam Cole
