By: Jeff Brown

Shinjuku FACE once again was the setting for another anticipated chapter of Sareee-ISM. The main event was Syuri taking on the Sareee in a one-on-one battle. Miku Kanae faced one of her heroes in Saori Anou, while legends like Jaguar Yokatoa and Kauro Ito took on rising talent. Here are some live, in-person impressions from the big evening in Shinjuku.

Misa Kagura vs. Sya

Nasty forearms and basic shoulder blocks. Sya is getting seen by more people by being on these events. Misa hits a missile dropkick followed up by a big lariat to get the pin. Misa is a very talented performer who should really be in more conversations.

A quick match was a nice start to the evening. 

Jaguar Yokota & Kaoru Ito vs. Kohaku & Yurika Oka

Two legends are being legends and beating up the younger talent.

Yurika has a lot of fire and feels really close to reaching that next level. Jaguar does another off-the-apron cannonball. Ito always brings it, and Kohaku has been ripping up the scene this past year and seems to be everywhere (that’s a good thing). She is so skilled and versatile as she is finding her place in wrestling. Ito, with a double foot stomp, pinned Kohaku.

Honori Hana & VENY vs. Chi Chi & DASH Chisako

The closest thing to a buddy cop scenario with Chi Chi and DASH while VENY refused to be in the match at times. A really comedy-heavy tag but also some nice wrestling mixed in.

Chi Chi is feeling like a legit star, and 2025 could be the year she breaks out. Honori was at times fighting everyone, it seemed; VENY controlled the room effortlessly, and DASH brought the brutality. VENY accidentally kicked Honori, and Chi Chi took advantage and pinned her. 

Natsupoi came out to address the crowd and was the special ring announcer for Anou vs. Miku. She was Miku’s original opponent, but a foot injury has delayed the match. Anou, like Poi, is someone Miku idolizes, so it was a win-win situation.

Saori Anou vs. Miku Kanae

A huge moment for Miku Kanae, who has come so far in two years. Everything she has done and been training for led to this 11 minutes.

Being in the ring with Anou, Miku was visibly emotional and came at her with an almost blind fury. Anou effortlessly strikes her down as she is in the salty veteran role. Miku is bloody-mouthed and begins hitting her hero while refusing to be overwhelmed by this match. She hits her crossbody and grabs a crucifix submission. Anou is bleeding (again) from the eyebrow, this time from Miku colliding headfirst into her. The nervous energy is part of Miku’s charm and why fans have taken to her. Mic Mic Knife, but Anou takes over again and wins with Temps Tendre.

Miku’s best performance yet, and it being with Anou made it all the more special. 

Syuri vs. Sareee

Just hard-hitting from the start, and both were wrestling like the main eventers they are. This was the Syuri that Sareee wanted, one of the best wrestlers in the world.

Sareee can have an attitude in the heat of a battle, and she repeatedly kicked Syuri while she was down. Syuri was going for wicked submissions, but Sareee answered back with knee bars. Brawl to the outside, Sareee with a double foot stomp off the counter. Everything that their reputations are built on was on full display in this match.

Sareee with an arm trap headbutt and then a series of unanswered headbutts into a double foot stomp and another knee bar as she was looking to finish Syuri. Syuri with her own headbutt and nails a bridging German suplex. Repeated headbutts, and Sareee gets caught in an armbar. The whole building was chanting for Sareee, and the match kicked into high gear with a lot of near falls. Sareee was hitting Uranages, and when she landed one with pinfall written all over it, time ran out. This will easily be the match of the year on a lot of lists. 

After the show, Rena Kubota offered to help train with Sareee. Also Hotta had an angle with VENY at the elevators. 

Another chapter in the books and another perfectly paced show. Sareee is finding the right balance of top-level wrestling while also spotlighting younger talent; she is really being a custodian of joshi with these Shinjuku cards.

It’s becoming Sareee’s world, and she is booking and wrestling the must-see events. Practically required viewing and the highest of recommendations.