Dragon Ball Z: The World’s Strongest

Dragon Ball Z: The World’s Strongest

Year: 1990

Runtime: 60 mins

Language: Japanese

Director: Daisuke Nishio

Science FictionAnimationAction

An ancient threat awakens beneath the ice. Dr. Kochin uses the Dragon Balls to revive his mentor, Dr. Wheelo, whose body was destroyed in an avalanche fifty years earlier. Wheelo seeks the strongest warrior’s body, believing Master Roshi fits the role, and kidnaps Bulma to force Roshi’s surrender. Goku learns of the abduction and races to rescue them and stop Wheelo’s plan.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Dragon Ball Z: The World’s Strongest yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Dragon Ball Z: The World’s Strongest (1990)

Trace every key event in Dragon Ball Z: The World’s Strongest (1990) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Dragon Ball radar detects mysterious gathering

Gohan and Oolong search for the Dragon Balls as their radar shows the orbs are being collected by an unknown party. They decide to investigate, hoping to uncover who is collecting them and why. The trail leads toward a location on Earth where Piccolo is training beside a massive wall of ice.

Earth (near Piccolo's training area)
2

Investigation near the ice wall and Piccolo

The duo nears the area and spots Piccolo in a training zone by the great wall of ice, which raises the stakes of the pursuit. Piccolo's presence hints at a larger plan connected to the Dragon Balls. Gohan and Oolong brace for trouble as the mystery deepens.

Near the ice wall, Piccolo's training area
3

Dr. Kochin gathers the Dragon Balls and awakens Wheelo

Dr. Kochin has collected all Dragon Balls and summons Shenron, triggering the ice to crack. A lab rises from the ice, revealing Wheelo's hidden complex. Kochin’s bio-men attack Gohan and Oolong, while Piccolo attempts to intervene but is overwhelmed by three mysterious bio-warriors.

Wheelo's ice fortress / lab
4

Roshi confronts the bio-men; Bulma is kidnapped

Master Roshi confronts and defeats the invading bio-men, halting their initial assault. Dr. Kochin kidnaps Bulma to force Roshi to pursue them to Wheelo's lab. Roshi agrees to follow, setting the rescue mission in motion.

Roshi's location on Earth
5

Roshi is defeated by the bio-warriors at Wheelo's lab

At Wheelo's lab, Roshi is forced to fight three bio-warriors and is swiftly defeated. His fall signals that the threat is far greater than expected and that Earth’s strongest fighters are needed. The battle reveals Wheelo's formidable plan in full force.

Wheelo's lab
6

Bulma uncovers Wheelo's mission and warns about Goku

Bulma discovers that Wheelo intends to obtain the body of Earth’s strongest warrior to host his brain, which is kept alive by advanced technology. She informs Dr. Wheelo that Goku will surely come to rescue them and that Goku is much stronger than Roshi. The knowledge sets the stage for Goku's arrival.

Wheelo's lab
7

Goku heads to Wheelo's lab

Goku learns of the crisis and makes his way to Wheelo's lab to confront the looming threat. He is determined to stop Wheelo and rescue Bulma, Roshi, and the others. On arrival, he is faced with the lab's dangerous henchmen of Kochin.

Wheelo's lab
8

Goku battles Mikokatsun and Ebifurya

Goku engages Mikokatsun and Ebifurya, defeating Mikokatsun but getting frozen by Ebifurya's ice-like attack. Krillin and Gohan also arrive to assist, but Kishime proves to be a formidable obstacle. The arena becomes a chaotic battleground as the wings of the plan unfold.

Wheelo's lab
9

Kaio-ken breakout and confrontation with Wheelo

Goku breaks free from the ice using the Kaio-ken and defeats the two remaining bio-warriors, advancing toward Dr. Wheelo. Piccolo, brainwashed by Wheelo, attacks Goku, adding a personal obstacle to the confrontation. The clash escalates toward a final resolution.

Wheelo's lab
10

Gohan shatters Wheelo's brainwashing and frees Piccolo

Gohan's anger erupts as he struggles to stop Piccolo, breaking Wheelo's brainwashing device and freeing Piccolo from mind control. The reversal shifts the momentum back to the Earth fighters. This moment redefines the balance of power in the fight.

Wheelo's lab
11

Wheelo breaks free and destroys Kochin

Wheelo breaks his robot body free from the ice wall and knocks Dr. Kochin down a shaft, killing him. He then reveals his intent to seize a living body to host his brain, escalating the danger to Gohan and his friends. The final struggle moves toward its climax.

Wheelo's lab
12

Spirit Bomb sequence culminates in Wheelo's death

Wheelo overwhelms the remaining fighters, leaving only Goku and Piccolo to oppose him. Goku begins to gather the Spirit Bomb energy, but Wheelo interrupts the process, forcing the allies to distraction. The allies persevere, the Spirit Bomb is completed, and Wheelo is killed.

Wheelo's lab

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:03

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Dragon Ball Z: The World’s Strongest

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