Not really forced
they both beat a dragon
the entire wano arc built up Luffy beating Kaido
Still ridiculous as Ryuuma is far more important to Zoro. Its not like Luffy is starved for glory either exactly. He should have solo'd big mom and instead had zoro, law, Kidd, killer take on kaido.
Oda could still obnoxiously wank luffy here and give a satisfying payoff/closure to the decade of big mom build up in the story as well as their war vs each other or so but he randomly chose law and Kidd to take her down instead.
Oda has followed deeply in the footsteps and thus mistakes that other major shonen authors do and yet he was meant to be special, different, unlike them, unique, more creative, a far superior writer etc
Its similar issues Batman ended up having too. Becoming far too much of a jack of all trades, a Gary stu.
Kaidos defeat was so forced and nonsensical but the wish lantern tribute part was absolutely beautiful and emotional so at least there's that.