I will preface this by saying I am a Luffy fan.
Pirate King isn't necessary a strength level although in Luffy's generation is may have been.
Except that Luffy is using help for every fight. [Law, Nami, Supernova, ppl of Dressrosa etc]
Zoro is NOT above Luffy, but given this is semi-(his arc/heritage) Zoro will do some bold shit.
In WCI, Sanji did what Luffy couldn't. He defeated Big Mom with food.
In Wano, Zoro will do what Luffy can't. Killing a Dragon as a representative of the Wano Nation.
Whether you like it or not, Tatsumaki made Kaido bleed and KGG Boundman didn't.
Also, whether you like it or not, Luffy popped his G4. He is now a Liability.
I am wondering why Oda incorporated this other than for tension/stakes/plot reasons.
Possibly as a troublesome ender for A3.
Luffy needing help is a plot device, he needed Usopps help to get up and fight Lucci, he needed Nico Robins help to survive Crocodiles poision, he needed a transfusion against HODY ffs. Luffy gets help every arc, he also fights the toughest strongest enemy each arc, and by the end of the arc is considered by the world to be stronger than the person he beats fair and square.
Luffy is the one who made the alliance with Momo.
Luffy is the one who told Kin'emon he will put Wano on his back.
Luffy said he will overcome the yonko 400 chapters ago and restated it 3 chapters ago, Zoro is not outshining him on one of his main goals to becoming the pirate king.
Luffy isn't a chef, he is the one who beats up the person in the way of his dream/ his friends safety
each arc.
Oda has been intentionally coy with Zoro's Wano heritage leaving it out to SBS and allusions for the most part, having his heritage be a higher plot point than all of the above at this stage would seem a little forced.
Red roc made Kaido bleed, do you think gattling was more or less powerful than red roc? It knocked kaido down and emphasis was put on each hit for 5 pages...