The Owen Hart Tournament field is getting heated
Double or Nothing usually gives us the kind of spectacle that leaves us buzzing for weeks, but the standout moment this time around wasn't a pyro-heavy explosion. It was the clinical dissection of Mina Shirakawa by the Ring of Honor Women’s Champion, Athena, in the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament quarterfinals.
Watching Athena work in 2026 is like watching a master class on how to balance pure aggression with technical precision. She isn’t just padding her win-loss record; she is actively building a legacy that makes the top of the women’s division look stagnant by comparison.
The march toward the trophy
After locking up the win at Double or Nothing, Athena kept it short and sweet with a reminder that she has her eyes on the prize: 'One down, two to go.' It is the kind of terrifyingly focused energy that defines her entire presentation.
We have seen plenty of tournament runs in wrestling history that feel like placeholders while the main title programs take center stage. This, however, feels intentional. Athena taking the tournament path is a massive signal that she is aiming to hold gold and hardware simultaneously as WrestleTalk recently reported.
The booking consistency problem
If there is one gripe to have, it is the lack of urgency in connecting these high-level ROH performances to the broader AEW narrative. Sometimes it feels like an island unto itself, and that is a massive missed opportunity for fans who don't spend their entire Sunday glued to the ROH streaming services.
Athena is currently operating at a level that necessitates broader exposure. Treating her as a peripheral star when she consistently puts on the best matches on any card is a questionable strategic move by the booking committee.
The path ahead
With the Owen Hart semifinals looming, the tension is going to skyrocket. Athena has the tournament pedigree and, more importantly, the chip on her shoulder that makes her impossible to bet against. If she keeps connecting with that O-Face or forcing tap-outs with her submission work, the trophy is basically sitting in her living room already.
She has zero wasted movement. Every strike lands with purpose, and her heel work is so genuine that you almost forget she’s doing it to get a reaction. She has managed to become the most compelling character on the roster simply by being better than everyone else in the ring.
Whether she clears the rest of the bracket or runs into a wall, the fact remains that she is the constant. Most wrestlers are defined by their opponents, but Athena defines the expectation for an entire division. We are watching a peak performer in her prime, and if you haven't been paying attention to her ROH run, you are genuinely failing at being a fan.
Grab yourself a drink and rewatch the Double or Nothing bout. It was 12 minutes of pure professional wrestling bliss that made the rest of the quarterfinal bracket look like a light warmup.
