After coming across his gym, Ash decided to battle A.J., who has never lost a battle, despite the gym not being official. During Ash's first try in the gym, A.J. comes out victorious. Team Rocket appears and takes A.J.'s Sandshrew, mistaking it for Ash's Pikachu. A.J. later got his Sandshrew back. After the defeat of Ash and Team Rocket, A.J. has past his previous number of ninety-eight victories and hit one hundred. With one hundred victories under his belt, A.J. and his Sandshrew travel the Kanto region to challenge the Gyms.
Sandshrew is A.J.'s first Pokémon. Through strict training, A.J.'s Sandshrew has become powerful enough to defeat 100 opponents. After doing so, A.J. left to take on Kanto gyms.
