▁from ▁a ▁two - year ▁hi atus ▁due ▁to ▁injury ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 5 . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁All ▁Japan ▁Pro ▁Wrestling ▁( 1 9 9 4 − 2 0 0 0 ) ▁Sh iga ▁trained ▁in ▁the ▁All ▁Japan ▁do jo ▁and ▁deb uted ▁in ▁All ▁Japan ▁Pro ▁Wrestling ▁in ▁early ▁ 1 9 9 4 . ▁For ▁the ▁first ▁two ▁years , ▁Sh iga ▁spent ▁most ▁of ▁the ▁time ▁in ▁opening ▁matches ▁or ▁low ▁mid card ▁matches ▁as ▁he ▁paid ▁his ▁dues . ▁On ▁January ▁ 3 , ▁ 1 9 9 6 , ▁Sh iga ▁won ▁his ▁first ▁honor ▁when ▁he ▁won ▁the ▁year ly ▁January ▁ 3 ▁Kor ak uen ▁Hall ▁Jr . ▁He avy weight ▁Battle ▁Royal . ▁Short ly ▁after ▁Sh iga ▁entered ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁As un aro ▁Cup ▁Tournament ▁where ▁he ▁finished ▁in ▁ 6 th ▁place ▁with ▁ 2 ▁points . ▁Following ▁these ▁events , ▁Sh iga ▁returned ▁to ▁the ▁mid card ▁for ▁another ▁few ▁years ▁where ▁he ▁did ▁not ▁challenge ▁for ▁any ▁titles . ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 8 , ▁Sh iga ▁te amed ▁with ▁A ki ra ▁Ta ue ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁As un aro ▁Cup ▁tournament ▁where ▁they ▁finished ▁as ▁the ▁run ners - up ▁losing ▁to ▁Jun ▁A ki y ama ▁and ▁Tak ao ▁Om ori ▁in ▁the ▁final s . ▁Later ▁in ▁the ▁year , ▁Sh iga ▁joined ▁K enta ▁Kob ashi ' s ▁stable : ▁Burn ing .