At some point dudes should realize that Oda does stuff to hype up characters or to avoid reputations damage (impossible challenge due to agenda wars).
The "equals" thing (if it lasts once the chapter drops), is meant to hype up Gaban in his intro. I believe this isn't to be taken as literal powerscaling statement, but to establish:
- old gen monster trio
- Roger, Rayleigh and Scopper didn't have big gaps in power level, they were all top tiers.
My take has been relatively consistent for a while - they are in same tier, but there is a sub tier gap between each.
Gold Roger - peak top tier, Silvers Rayleigh - high top tier, Scopper Gaban - mid top tier. I think this will age well.
Roger sneaking into Big Mom's territory was clearly Oda's way of not dehyping/humiliating Big Mom, in the arc where she was going to be a main antagonist and was supposed to fall.
In reality, Roger, Rayleigh and maybe Gaban could solo her; and any duo of Roger/Rayleigh/Gaban would've solo'd the entire BMPs.
