Isamu Yoshida | MP
By: Thom Fain
TOKYO – The red towels waved with religious fervor as Sareee made her entrance to address the crowd at Shinjuku FACE, and it wasn’t the sound of idol worship but the passionate roars of wrestling purists hungry for something real. 599 fans packed the venue Monday night, their Sareee t-shirts creating a sea of defiance against her opponents – emblematic of the glittery, choreographed spectacle that’s dominated Joshi puroresu for the better part of a decade.
When Saya Kamitani stepped through the curtain to face the woman many now call the torchbearer of Antonio Inoki’s legacy, it was as if they had walked into a cultural battleground.
The crowd’s reaction throughout the night was immediate and telling: jeers for the established STARDOM stars, thunderous approval for the wrestler who represents everything their movement stands for. The idol era, with its emphasis on entertainment over athleticism, is second to the tōkon torch carried by the IWGP Women’s champ.
Call it a “vibe shift,” or call it something else, but after years of Tam lore and teary-eyed promos, fans in Japan appear to be craving women’s wrestling stripped down to a more straight-up competition.
If you ask Sareee, her produce shows represent a referendum on the soul of the sport itself.
It all played out in front of fans who have begun yearning for the kind of legitimate competition that once made Antonio Inoki a household name. As Sareee stretched against the ropes, her movements deliberate and workmanlike, the message was clear: pure wrestling is fighting its way back to the surface.
The evening’s main event saw Sareee team with Takumi Iroha as SPARK RUSH against STARDOM’s Saya Kamitani and Natsuko Tora of H.A.T.E. in an 18-minute encounter that began with five minutes of outside brawling.
After H.A.T.E. gained early advantage through chair use and outside dives, Sareee and Takumi took control with disciplined technical wrestling. Kamitani managed to outwork Sareee until a crowd-supported rally led to a decisive double foot stomp from the top rope that visibly affected Kamitani for the remainder of the match.
Kamitani’s response included a series of headbutts that appeared to damage both wrestlers, creating legitimate concern. A near fall on Natsuko preceded another top-rope double foot stomp, though H.A.T.E. managed brief offensive sequences to stay competitive.
The finish came after a Death Valley driver by Natsuko nearly secured victory for the challengers, but an errant bat shot by Momo Watanabe proved costly. Sareee capitalized with her signature uranage for the victory.
Match 1: Sayaka Toyota vs. Honori Hana ended in a time limit draw, with Arisa Nakajima observing from next to the entrance curtain on the stage. The two Seadlinnng wrestlers went toe-to-toe in an evenly matched contest that served as an effective primer for the evening’s competitive philosophy, with Nakajima studying their every move throughout the encounter.
Match 2: Veterans Yumiko Hotta and Kaoru Ito defeated STARDOM’s Rian and Aya Sakura in a punishing encounter that showcased the generational divide in wrestling approaches. The legends did their best to manhandle the much smaller but more athletic STARDOM duo, who came in with fire to prove their growth. Despite the young team’s energy and athleticism, the veterans took everything thrown at them and dished out considerably more punishment. Concerned STARDOM staff rushed backstage to check on Rian and Sakura after the match, with both wrestlers visibly bruised but appearing to be in stable condition.
Match 3: DASH Chisako representing Sendai Girls defeated Evolution Pro’s Chi Chi in a contest that perfectly illustrated how appearances can deceive. Chi Chi’s pink-and-blonde “Barbie girl” aesthetic can’t mask her growth as a wrestler; the bout was a full of intensity typical of this era’s intrapromotional fighting. From the opening collar-and-elbow tie-up, both women abandoned any pretense of entertainment-first wrestling. Chisako’s strikes came with stiff precision that made crowds wince, each chop echoing through FACE like a gunshot, each kick landing with the thud of genuine impact. Chi Chi matched the intensity blow for blow, proving that the next generation is ready to take the next step.
Match 4: The typically popular Natsupoi found herself in the unfamiliar position of drawing negative reactions while her underdog opponent elicited most of the crowd support. Leaning into the role or perhaps frustrated with the ball of energy that is Miku Kanae, Natsupoi worked her over by tossing her around the ring by the hair and kicking her while she was down. Gloating and asking Miku to bring whatever she’s got, Natsupoi miscalculated with overconfidence and ended up with boot marks on her chest, nearly losing the match before she could finish off her younger opponent. In the end, Natsupoi defeated Miku Kanae in 13 minutes via Fairy-ing Ring. The encounter served as a learning lesson for Miku as Natsupoi shrugged off jeers and turned the youngster’s fighting spirit momentum against her.
Following the main event, Chi Chi and Miku Kanae entered the ring seeking alliance with SPARK RUSH against H.A.T.E. Sareee welcomed the proposition, stating her mission to develop young wrestlers committed to competitive wrestling.
The Crush Gals made a surprise appearance to endorse Sareee and Takumi as representatives of strong-style wrestling. Lioness Asuka delivered a brief speech supporting the movement, lending veteran credibility to the evening’s competitive philosophy.
Sareee acknowledged that current performers cannot match the Crush Gals era’s mainstream popularity while accepting responsibility for elevating the current generation of athletes focused on legitimate competition over entertainment presentation.
All photos copyright Monthly Puroresu by Isamu Yoshida
Date:
July 15, 2025
Category:
Latest News
