Kentaro Shiga
All Japan Pro Wrestling (1994−2000)
### All Japan Pro Wrestling (1994−2000\)

Shiga trained in the All Japan dojo and debuted in [All Japan Pro Wrestling](/wiki/All_Japan_Pro_Wrestling "All Japan Pro Wrestling") in early 1994\. For the first two years, Shiga spent most of the time in opening matches or low midcard matches as he paid his dues. On January 3, 1996, Shiga won his first honor when he won the yearly January 3 Korakuen Hall Jr. Heavyweight Battle Royal. Shortly after Shiga entered the 1996 Asunaro Cup Tournament where he finished in 6th place with 2 points.
Following these events, Shiga returned to the midcard for another few years where he did not challenge for any titles. In 1998, Shiga teamed with [Akira Taue](/wiki/Akira_Taue "Akira Taue") in the 1998 Asunaro Cup tournament where they finished as the runners\-up losing to [Jun Akiyama](/wiki/Jun_Akiyama "Jun Akiyama") and [Takao Omori](/wiki/Takao_Omori "Takao Omori") in the finals.
Later in the year, Shiga joined [Kenta Kobashi's](/wiki/Kenta_Kobashi "Kenta Kobashi") stable: [Burning](/wiki/Burning_%28professional_wrestling%29 "Burning (professional wrestling)"). On February 13, 1999, Shiga teamed with Kobashi and Jun Akiyama in a One Night Six Man Tag Team Tournament where they emerged victorious. On June 9, 1999, Shiga received his first title shot when he challenged [Yoshinari Ogawa](/wiki/Yoshinari_Ogawa "Yoshinari Ogawa") for the [World Junior Heavyweight Championship](/wiki/World_Junior_Heavyweight_Championship_%28AJPW%29 "World Junior Heavyweight Championship (AJPW)") but lost. On January 3, 2000, Shiga won his second Jr. Heavyweight Battle Royal. In June 2000, Shiga left All Japan along with the majority of the native roster to [Mitsuharu Misawa's](/wiki/Mitsuharu_Misawa "Mitsuharu Misawa") new promotion: [Pro Wrestling Noah](/wiki/Pro_Wrestling_NOAH "Pro Wrestling NOAH").


Why did Shiga leave All Japan Pro Wrestling in June 2000?