Tiger Mask IV Retirement Tour Begins with Tiger Festival at Shinjuku FACE

By: Thom Fain

TOKYO, JAPAN – The unofficial kickoff of Tiger Mask IV’s retirement tour culminated in a big unmasking at Shinjuku FACE, where 431 fans witnessed TAKA Michinoku revealed as the mysterious Rim Fine Black Tiger during Strong Style Pro-Wrestling’s 20th anniversary celebration. The event, presided over by original Tiger Mask Satoru Sayama, launched what promises to be an emotional farewell tour for New Japan Pro Wrestling’s current Tiger Mask, who announced his retirement for July 2026.

In the main event refereed by Great Sasuke, Tiger Mask IV and Super Tiger defeated the masked duo of Rim Fine Black Tiger and Black Tiger in a heated encounter that saw the crowd erupt when Michinoku’s identity was exposed. Super Tiger secured the victory by pinning Black Tiger, sending the Shinjuku FACE faithful home satisfied after witnessing wrestling history.

The retiring Tiger Mask IV expressed deep gratitude for competing under the guidance of his “master and father figure” Sayama, revealing he had also discussed his retirement decision with former Yomiuri Giants manager Tatsunori Hara, a close personal friend. The emotional champion pledged to wrestle “wherever possible” during his retirement road, confirming offers from both the United States and Mexico as international promotions seek to honor his legacy.

Strong Style Pro-Wrestling, launched in 2005 by Sayama himself, has become the spiritual home for Tiger Mask tradition over two decades. The promotion runs independent shows every 2-3 months, featuring a unique blend of legends, emerging strong-style wrestlers from multiple promotions, luchadores, and prime-time talent on loan from their home companies.

The co-main event delivered vintage joshi puroresu action as legendary Jaguar Yokota teamed with recently crowned IWGP Women’s Champion Sareee and Miku Kanae to defeat the formidable trio of DASH Chisako from Sendai Girls, Sayaka Toyota, and Chi Chi. The six-woman tag match brought the crowd to life with its combination of technical excellence and hard-hitting action.

Earlier in the evening, a legends match turned chaotic when Aja Kong’s frustration boiled over during her encounter with Kyoko Inoue and Rydeen Hagane against Kong and Yumiko Hotta. After missing several high-risk maneuvers, Kong dragged Inoue into the crowd for chair-assisted violence, resulting in a double count-out that served as fan service for those who remembered their classic All Japan Women’s matches.

The card showcased SSPW’s diverse booking philosophy with luchador action featuring Ikuto Hidaka and SUGI battling Van Vert Negro and Van Vert Jack of MyWay, delivering smooth ring work that impressed the knowledgeable Tokyo crowd. Strong Style Legend Champion Masakatsu Funaki anchored a six-man tag alongside Hayato Mashita and Hideki “Shrek” Sekine, defeating the veteran team of 51-year-old freelancer Kazunari Murakami, Kengo Mashimo, and Shogun Okamoto after 15 minutes of technical wrestling.

The evening opened with JTO Girls tag-team champion Misa Kagura, holding her title for just over two weeks, facing the determined CoCo of MyWay. Kagura, who has had an ascendant couple of years in JTO, nearly submitted the energetic CoCo before securing victory with a top-rope Swanton bomb.

As Tiger Mask IV begins his final chapter, the Shinjuku FACE celebration demonstrated the enduring power of the Tiger Mask legacy. With international offers pouring in and a promise to “return the favor with a showcase of strong style,” the retirement tour promises to honor one of professional wrestling’s most iconic characters while celebrating the rich tradition Sayama established decades ago.

All photos copyright Monthly Puroresu, by Masahiro Kubota

Masahiro Kubota | MP