Maybe we can argue that everything is an asspull in this "war".
But they are not in the leagues to be even compared. One is bad writing as it's been added because oda doesn't know what to do and is just taking an easy route as now he can do whatever the heck he wants. Blocking Hakai is nothing special honestly(from writing), I mean luffy doesn't get hurt from boro breath...and we don't even care as the author can remove those two things and it will still be fine... were just flex scenes, typical of oda.
Now lets see if oda actually achieves something with the awakening, I mean I know nothing will happen. And then I will come and say again. Another useless writing.