How is the timeline not being linear switching goalposts? Sanji took like 20 minutes to wrap Zoro and come to the point where they are at and immediately met with Queen in like another minute or so. So okay, Luffy was fighting Kaido for 20 minutes.
Garp isn't a pirate. The criterion is very clear - a pirate who Kaido respects.
You think that scars are consolation prizes because they suit your agenda right now. Scarring Kaido has been set up as a plot narrative over Wano for the entirety of act 2 with Zoro recieving a power up for that very act. Do you think that Oda would go to such lengths to show all this just for a "consolation prize"?
So Oden didn't wound Kaido using his Conquerors infused Togen Totsuka (Which Oda specifically clarified in the SBS)? He did it because he had Enma and Ame no Habakiri and that has nothing to do with him infusing his Conquerors into the attack. Cools.
Garp isn't a pirate. The criterion is very clear - a pirate who Kaido respects.
You think that scars are consolation prizes because they suit your agenda right now. Scarring Kaido has been set up as a plot narrative over Wano for the entirety of act 2 with Zoro recieving a power up for that very act. Do you think that Oda would go to such lengths to show all this just for a "consolation prize"?
So Oden didn't wound Kaido using his Conquerors infused Togen Totsuka (Which Oda specifically clarified in the SBS)? He did it because he had Enma and Ame no Habakiri and that has nothing to do with him infusing his Conquerors into the attack. Cools.
In any case 20 minutes is still a highly respectable timeframe to fight a yonko as you learn a new style of haki control.
I already said the same about Garp, I was merely saying he does resemble Luffy.
If Oden did nothing but lose to Kaido, without scarring him, his hype would go down and it would make his loss less bitter and frustrating.
Oda only ever lets Zoro lose when there is a mitigating circumstance, so even if he would legitimately get overpowered he doesn't break his agreement with Mihawk.
Luffy will have the ultimate hype of taking down Kaido in Zoro's own hometown, while he fights king, this is the trade off to save Zoro's face, while keeping Luffy front and cener.