On their way to Vermilion City, Misty suggests that they check out the gorgeous cruise liner, the St. Anne while there. Brock also explains that there is a gym there as well and Ash excited as ever marches along faster. Misty yells to Ash that there are a lot of trainers around the area they are currently in but that doesn't phase Ash in the slightest.

Ash battles ten trainers in a row, winning all them. The 10th battle was against a beginning trainer with a Rattata who was easily defeated by Ash's Pigeotto. The trainer tells Ash that he is quite strong and Ash flashes his two gym badges attached to his vest which Misty comments that the only reason he has any badges is out of pity.

The trainer suggests that Ash might be strong enough to beat A.J. Ash and his friends arrive outside an unauthorized Pokémon League gym and Misty notices that the sign says he has won 98 straight battles. A.J. arrives and asks Ash if he is planning to challenge him and that's when the trouble starts.

A.J. invites them into the gym for a match and asks Ash and his friends which one of them was going to battle him and lose. Ash quickly takes up the challenge. A.J. sends out his Sandshrew and Ash counters with his Pigeotto realizing that flying should have the advantage after Misty explains to him that Pikachu's electric moves would be useless.

The battle starts and it is quite apparent that A.J.'s Sandshrew is quite strong as it jumps into the air and is able to hit a flying Pigeotto. Ash recalls Pigeotto and switches it with Butterfree. Ash tells it to use Stun Spore but with the crack of a whip Sandslash has already taken out Butterfree.

Mad that his two Pokemon were easily defeated, Ash tries to force Pikachu into the match by it obviously doesn't want to battle after seeing what had just transpired. Pikachu shocks Ash and temporarily paralyzes him in the process. A.J. declares himself the winner by stating he has won his 99th straight battle.

Ash quickly challenges him to a rematch outside but Misty and Brock dicuss that Ash is getting carried away again noting A.J. is quite strong. A.J. goes inside and the cracks of a whip and yelling are head which raises the attention of Ash and his friends.

Ash peaks inside to see A.J. getting mad at his Sandshrew and and quickly takes exception and tackles him into the pool after seeing him force it into the water. A.J. gets mad at Ash and explains that Sandshrew could possibly be the only Sandshrew in the world that can stand water.

A.J. returns to training his Pokemon and Brock notices that all his Pokemon look quite strong. Being a Breeder, Brock realized that A.J. must make his own Pokemon food. A.J. is happy someone noticed and shows them all the different food blends he has created.

Meanwhile outside the Gym, Team Rocket is starting to put their latest plan into action. During A.J.'s training break, Team Rocket infiltrates the Gym disguised as a Pokeball and captures Sandshrew. When the training resumes, A.J. notices his Sandshrew is missing and tells his Pokemon to go looking for it.

After a few minutes of carrying Sandshrew, James gets tired and suggests Jessie should carry it. Jessie counters by saying that girls shouldn't have to do the physical work and Sandshrew escapes into the ground with Meowth bitting on it tail. Moments later, Sandshrew returns to the Gym and Ash and his friends see Meowth came with it as well. Meowth scratches Ash's face just as Jessie and James arrive.

Jessie and James target has changed and they are once again after Pikachu telling A.J. that his Pokemon are weak. He takes exception to their remark and challenges them to a battle. He sends out Sandshrew again while Jessie sends out Ekans and James sends out Koffings.

Sandshrew proves to be too powerful for them and causes Ekans, Koffings and Meowth to flee the battle while Jessie and James chase after them. A.J. wins his 100th straight battle and decides that its time for him to start his badge journey.

Vowing to return to the Gym one day after he has become a Pokemon Master, A.J. says goodbye to his new rival Ash as he starts on his journey with his Pokemon.

English Official Summary

On the way to Vermillion City, Ash meets AJ, a Gym Leader at an unsanctioned Gym who has 98 wins and zero losses. They battle, and Ash is surprised that AJ's Ground-type Sandshrew can easily beat his Flying-type Pokémon. (Flying-type Pokémon are usually strong against Ground-type Pokémon.) Ash and his friends later see that AJ puts his Pokémon through very tough training—he makes his Sandshrew, normally weak to Water-type attacks, train in a swimming pool! Although Ash doesn't approve of the intensive training session, Brock is impressed. Ash begs for a rematch, but AJ refuses. The two argue a bit and when they fall into the pool, AJ's Sandshrew goes missing. Are AJ's training methods too tough? Will Ash get his rematch? And what happened to AJ's Sandshrew?

French Official Summary

Alors qu'il se rend à Carmin sur Mer, Sacha rencontre Albert, le Champion d'une Arène officieuse, qui compte 98 victoires et aucune défaite à son actif. Ils s'affrontent et, à la grande surprise de Sacha, le Sabelette de type Sol d'Albert bat facilement son Pokémon de type Vol.

German Official Summary

Auf dem Weg nach Orania City trifft Ash auf A.J., den Arenaleiter einer nicht eingetragenen Arena. A.J. hat bereits 98 Mal gewonnen und nicht einmal verloren. Die beiden kämpfen und Ash ist vollkommen verdattert, weil A.J.s Boden-Pokémon Sandan sein Flug-Pokémon mühelos besiegt.

Italian Official Summary

Dopo aver ottenuto la sua seconda Medaglia, Ash si dirige ad Aranciopoli. Lungo la strada sente parlare di A.J. - un Allenatore che si fregia di ben 98 vittorie consecutive, pieno di fiducia in sé, Ash lo sfida!

Portuguese Official Summary

Após ganhar sua segunda insígnia, Ash parte para a Cidade de Vermilion. No caminho, ele ouve falar de A.J, um Treinador prestes a conseguir 100 vitórias seguidas. Cheio de confiança, Ash desafia este temível Treinador!

Finnish Official Summary

Voitettuaan toisen merkkinsä Ash lähtee voitonriemuisena kohti Vermilion Cityä. Matkan varrella hän kuulee kouluttajasta nimeltä AJ,  joka on saamaisillaan 100 voittoa peräjälkeen. Itsevarmana Ash haastaan hurjan kouluttajan!

Spanish Latin America Official Summary

Luego de ganar su segunda medalla, Ash parte triunfal hacia Ciudad Carmín. En el camino escucha acerca de AJ, un Entrenador a punto de conseguir 100 victorias seguidas. ¡Lleno de confianza, Ash reta a este temible Entrenador!

Spanish Official Summary

De camino a Ciudad Carmín, Ash se encuentra con A.J., un Líder de Gimnasio en un Gimnasio no autorizado que cuenta con 98 victorias y cero derrotas. Luchan, y a Ash le resulta sorprendente que el Sandshrew de tipo Tierra de A.J. pueda ganar fácilmente a su Pokémon de tipo Volador.

English Great Britain Official Summary

On the way to Vermillion City, Ash meets AJ, a Gym Leader at an unsanctioned Gym who has 98 wins and zero losses. They battle, and Ash is surprised that AJ's Ground-type Sandshrew can easily beat his Flying-type Pokémon. (Flying-type Pokémon are usually strong against Ground-type Pokémon.) Ash and his friends later see that AJ puts his Pokémon through very tough training—he makes his Sandshrew, normally weak to Water-type attacks, train in a swimming pool! Although Ash doesn't approve of the intensive training session, Brock is impressed. Ash begs for a rematch, but AJ refuses. The two argue a bit and when they fall into the pool, AJ's Sandshrew goes missing. Are AJ's training methods too tough? Will Ash get his rematch? And what happened to AJ's Sandshrew?

Dutch Official Summary

Met zijn tweede badge op zak vertrekt Ash naar Vermillion City. Onderweg hoort hij over AJ, een Trainer die op het punt staat om honderd overwinningen op rij te behalen. Vol vertrouwen daagt Ash deze geduchte Trainer uit.

Norwegian Official Summary

Med sin andre badge, drar Ash triumferende videre til Vermilion City. På veien får han høre om AJ, en Trainer som har vunnet nesten 100 kamper på rad. Stolt og selvsikker, utfordrer Ash denne fryktinngytende Treneren!

Swedish Official Summary

Efter att han fått sin andra Badge beger sig Ash triumferande mot Vermilion City. På vägen hör han talas om AJ, Tränaren som snart vunnit 100 segrar på raken. Full av självförtroende utmanar Ash den skräckinjagande Tränaren!

Danish Official Summary

Da Ash har vundet sit andet Badge, tager han fuld af sejrsvilje af sted mod Vermilion City. På vejen hører han om Træneren AJ, som snart har vundet 100 sejre i træk. Fuld af selvtillid udfordrer Ash den frygtløse Træner!