It's also about how Kaidou remembers them.
I don't think whitebeard and Kaidou ever actually fought to make that assumption.
Kaidou knew who were actually capable of beating him.
Oden Checks all the benchmarks on top of that.
- AdCoC
- Master Swordsman
- Face tanked kamasuri from roger which One shotted kidd.
Marines doesn't bother invading Wano because Samurai and only samurai they know is Oden.
- Whitebeard Second commander, only to be called brother rather than Son.
Was on the verge of creating black blades on top of that.
I don't think whitebeard and Kaidou ever actually fought to make that assumption.
Kaidou knew who were actually capable of beating him.
Oden Checks all the benchmarks on top of that.
- AdCoC
- Master Swordsman
- Face tanked kamasuri from roger which One shotted kidd.
Marines doesn't bother invading Wano because Samurai and only samurai they know is Oden.
- Whitebeard Second commander, only to be called brother rather than Son.
Was on the verge of creating black blades on top of that.
Also, we need to connect to bigger picture to make sense out of the panel.
Mihawk wasn't there in the panel. Akainu, Dragon and Garp weren't there as well.
And based on how power levels are progressing, all of them are likely to power creep Kaido, yet Kaido panel had none of them.
He didn't even have IMU blob form whom he witnessed at GV.
Such exclusions clearly suggest that the panel wasn't about who are stronger than Kaido but whom Kaido respects and admires as fighters.
Oden inclusion is there because he fought Kaido with integrity and will power worthy of earning respect of Kaido. This doesn't equate to oden being as strong as those remaining 4.
I mean ask yourself - do oden stands out as much as Xebec, Roger, WB and Shanks? Nope


