I guess if Garp and Sengoku weren't there then I'd understand.
Whitebeard has WSM title that separates him.
But it is intellectual dishonesty to think anyone from that era besides Roger and Whitebeard is bigger deal than Rayleigh.
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Kizaru literally treated Luffy like a puppy dog, healed him with food while fighting himself mentally.
Luffy is a Yonko who took out Kaido
Rayleigh in his old age had Aokiji's Captain shitting his pants and ran away like a bitch, and unlike Shanks' insecurity, he doesn't need to release shit ton of his Haki to do that.
Kizaru was dead set on getting to straw hats, had no mental conflict yet was embarrassed and Sentomaru said Kizaru was stopped in his tracks and frustrated.
Aokiji was fighting his own mentor, he was holding back yet Garp was getting matched in fist fight. Aokiji didn't even try yet Garp was arrested.
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Kizaru ~ Old Rayleigh > Aokiji > Old Garp
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Sengoku vs Blackbeard
Rayleigh vs Blackbeard