Poppy Shay Vs Akane Fujita - Match Spotlight - Singapore Pro Wrestling Heartland Havoc

Heartland Havoc, the last show from Singapore Pro Wrestling occurred on August 29th. One of the most anticipated matches was the international showdown between Akane Fujita of Ice Ribbon fame and Poppy Shay, Malaysia’s first female wrestler.

Background on the competitors

Akane Fujita is a veteran of the Japanese joshi scene, debuting in 2013 after training under Hikaru Shida. She’s built a reputation as a tough, no-nonsense competitor — heavy strikes, big shoulder blocks, and a brutal cloverleaf that can end a match in seconds. A former FantastICE and Triangle Ribbon Champion, Fujita carries herself with the calm confidence of someone who knows exactly how to control a ring. She doesn’t waste motion, she doesn’t play to the crowd — she just hits hard and makes it count.

Poppy Shay on the other hand is a rising talent that deserves far more notoriety. Starting young as the first female wrestler in Malaysia, this 10 year veteran has already competed with some of Southeast Asia’s best in standout matches. Many might underestimate Shay as just another pretty face but this year she has already taken notable opponents to the absolute limit including Grapplemax’s Divya, Lana XO and SETUP Thailand top talent Matcha. In the following match she gets to take on a joshi competitor.

Match Recap

Poppy Shay opened the match with explosive energy, launching straight into a series of dropkicks and takedown attempts to throw Akane Fujita off balance. Despite the quick start, her strikes barely moved the veteran, who stood her ground with a smirk. Fujita absorbed the early offense, brushing it off before cutting Poppy off with a sharp forearm to the chest.

Taking control, Fujita dragged Shay around the ring in a display of dominance, slamming her into the turnbuckles and taunting her between strikes. She forced Poppy to sit down on the mat, gestured for her to stay there, and confidently posed for the cameras before resuming her assault. Fujita kept control as the action returned to the center, nailing a strong backbreaker that sent Shay rolling in pain.

Fujita stayed methodical, focusing on the back and midsection with elbows and stomps, but Poppy refused to stay grounded. When Fujita attempted another corner charge, Shay ducked under and fired back with forearms and mid-kicks. Poppy then caught her with a spinning heel kick to the jaw, followed by a running clothesline and a low basement dropkick that staggered the veteran. With momentum finally on her side, Shay climbed the ropes and connected with a top-rope codebreaker that sent Fujita sprawling across the mat for a near fall.

Fujita kicked out, and Poppy tried to press the advantage, but Akane countered with a brutal shoulder block that stopped her cold. A second and third shoulder block followed, each one shaking the ring. Fujita then locked in a deep cloverleaf submission hold, wrenching Poppy’s legs and lower back. Shay endured the hold for what felt like an eternity before finally reaching the ropes to force a break.

As the referee separated them, Poppy used a burst of energy to roll Fujita up after faking a hurricanrana, but the veteran escaped at two. Fujita responded immediately—hoisting Shay up for a crushing Samoan drop, then lifting her once more into a Michinoku Driver-style slam that planted Poppy in the center of the ring for the three-count.

SEA Wrestling’s thoughts

Fujita and Shay delivered a tight, well-paced match that showcased both wrestlers’ strengths. Poppy brought real urgency and energy, her offense sharper and more confident than in previous outings, and she sold Fujita’s power convincingly. Fujita, in turn, controlled the rhythm with her composure and heavy strikes, grounding the match in realism. The layout struck a good balance between veteran dominance and underdog fight, with the rope-break and near-falls perfectly timed to draw the crowd in. Overall, it felt like a breakout showing for Shay and a reminder of Fujita’s instant presence.

You cant watch the full match on Youtube.