They mean nothing. Action and consistency means everything in story telling.
That's why what they did and the consistency of the narrative say all. Plus, as said, the fact that those things happened at the very beginning of the manga and It's like saying Lord of the coast > Mihawk becuase the Lord of the coast actually took Shanks' arm.

If loki gets defeated by Ussop, what wil happen?
Depends how.

Usopp uses a plan and then, idk, shot a Kairoseki projectile from afar? Not much then.
 
Early 1175 Spoilers from Pew:

- Loki and Luffy face Imu gunko.

- Before that Sanji nosebleeds over gunko and she domi reverses Sanji.

- Domi reversed Sanji kills Nami and Robin

- Luffy mad, kills domi reverses Sanji.

- Loki vs Gunko.

- They clash but Imu domi reverses Loki.

- Cliffhanger gear 5 Luffy vs Domi reversed Loki.

- Break next week. Oda is sick and has to take 2 months break

:endthis:
Seriously speaking, I would be happy if the chapter ends with Loki and Luffy facing Imu lol.

Oda Is surely wasting this chapter in some way and we are not getting Imu doing something from the get go.
 
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