Yes he totally did not call himself and talk about how he wants to become King of Hell at the end of the King fight.
Yes.
Rayleigh & Zoro both being the first member of the two PK crews is just a callback.
Rayleigh & Zoro both being termed "Partners" of the two PK is just a callback.
Rayleigh & Zoro both having Conquerors Haki while being subordinates of the two PK is just a callback.
Rayleigh & Zoro both being CoA specialists is just a callback.
Rayleigh & Zoro both being DF-less Swordsmen is just a callback.
Rayleigh & Zoro both having mirror-image scars on their eyes is just a callback.
Everything is a callback, even the most obvious shit Oda throws at our faces giving the two similar epithets
Doesn't make it a forced parallel either, and it's literally the Mangaka showing it to the readers on the face.