And yet Oda himself did downplay it. Whatever excuse we want to put in, whatever it was because Kuma is from a special race, Zoro was exhausted, etc.
Kuma was also exhausted by having to live a miserabile slave life of costant pain and fatigue, and still he did what Zoro has done better and many more times, this is the message Oda sent to his fandom.
Every fandom Indeed dreams of a moment like Nothing happened for their fav, and Oda gave that moment to Zoro, and after years decided to take it away from him. I dont know how that left you guys unbothered but I envy you.