I was thinking about all the possible Zoro matchups for a while and the progression seems a little weird because there are too many characters left against the number of expected arcs and the current power level shown. And newer characters getting introduced makes even more possibilities. And considering how important each character is you cant expect them to be mid arc opponents for Zoro. Let me list the characters first and then discuss the possibilities or why they can be opponents.
1. Mihawk
2. Nasujuro
3. Shiryu
4. Shamrock
5. Loki
6. Sommers/Killingham
7. Dorry/Broggy
1. Mihawk: I think generally all Zoro fans agree that Mihawk should be the final fight as was set in the beginning and Mihawks promise of waiting at the top. Generally the opposition comes from Mihawk/Zoro haters because of power level implications.
2. Nasujuro: For a Japanese manga, the closest we got to Zoro of fighting a samurai and beating them was in TB (against Ryuma), but neither then nor in Wano (clashing against Kyoshiro or beating fodders doesnt count) was Zoro really made to fight a samurai for a real fight. Then we have the Kitetsu thing and Oda showing it in their first ever clash. Feels like a destined meeting of some sort.
3. Shiryu: No history, they are depicted as having different set of morals with Zoro looking like an honorable samurai while Shiryu looks like a sneaky/backstabbing and bloodthirsty one. There are other parallels though of Zoro being saved and set free by Luffy and joining under oath due to no other choice while Shiryu saves BB and joins of his own accord with no oath from either side. The biggest one though is that Shiryu is BBs No.2 and just as Luffy vs BB is destined so should Zoro vs Shiryu be.
4. Shamrock: At first he seemed like a Luffy opponent to show that Luffy has surpassed Shanks by beating his twin brother but then it turned out that Sham really is a swordsman with a special sword, a three headed dog with three swords and the dog is the guardian of hell. So there is also a good argument for Sham to be a Zoro opponent where Zoro surpasses Shanks level by beating Sham and becoming worthy of challenging Mihawk.
5. Loki: Personally not a fan of this since I dont think Loki will be the evil guy, the parallels of Loki and Zoro have been pointed out by Oda himself in some material (idk SBS or what it was). And similar to Sham, Zoro beating Loki would mean that Zoro has reached Shanks level and is ready to challenge Mihawk.
6. Sommer/Killingam: Not a fan of either matchup, I think they can serve as mid arc matchups like in Alabasta arc (Mr. 4 or 5) or Braham (Skypeia) or T Bone (EL) or Ryuma (TB) or Killer/Apoo/Hawkins in Wano. They dont really feel like Zoro opponents.
7. Dorry/Broggy: Just like Sommer/Killingham, not a fan of this matchup, they can serve as mid arc opponents. Dorry wields a sword but Broggy has history and connection with Zoro. Still think they are as puppet kings going to be defeated by Loki and Hajrudin.
As you can see there are quite a lot of matchups and I am not a fan of some of them. If the current arc is long enough like Wano then I can see Zoro getting some mid arc opponents who get low/neg diffed. However the major ones do require their own arcs and that is where the real problem lies. Imu joining the battlefield so early means that the WG is indeed the current arc opponent. And after this only one final arc remains a possibility. I think this is like DR to the Yonko saga, the saving the kingdom, the time bomb (kids getting kidnapped) is already present. The other possibility is that the kids do get kidnapped like Robin in W7 and the rescue happens by raiding EL/MG.
I thought it would be easier to let Shiryu kill Nasujuro and take Shodai Kitetsu. Shiryu has an attachment to his sword Raiu but there is a possibility that he takes Shodai. It would serve as good hype for him, BBs already have one Gorosei copied so them raiding a government facility or MG is very possible. I think the Shodai is the real thing that needs to be resolved during the fight (the reason why both said Kitetsu) and it might not make much difference if Shiryu wields it. Would be fun though if we get the Nasujuro vs Zoro fight and Nasujuro explains on how he fought Ryuma once and lost and before losing he tells Zoro that he has reached the level of Ryuma.
As much as Zoro fighting Sham would be fun (three sword vs three sword and lots and lots of agenda) I think it wont happen. There are two types of opponents, characters with established power levels like Nasujuro and Shamrock and the ones on the rise or unclear power level (Zoro and Shiryu). Creating hype for the latter can happen by beating the established ones. We can have Zoro defeating Nasujuro and resolving the Kitetsu (and possibly Ryuma) thing while Shiryu beats Shamrock and gets built up as the next opponent with proper hype, cause lets be honest Shiryu doesnt have that hype yet. Beating Ben for either Zoro or Shiryu wont be that effective because Ben is not a swordsman.
There have been theories/agendas of Shiryu beating Mihawk and stealing Yoru but the point of Mihawk is not just Yoru, it is about forging a black blade. A black blade stealer vs a black blade forger has levels of difference. If the stealer was actually good enough to wield the black blade then he would have already forged one in the first place.
What are your thoughts? @nik87 @Kōri no kokyū @mly90 @CbShadow @Nadel @Topi Jerami @L57 @ShishioIsBack etc.
1. Mihawk
2. Nasujuro
3. Shiryu
4. Shamrock
5. Loki
6. Sommers/Killingham
7. Dorry/Broggy
1. Mihawk: I think generally all Zoro fans agree that Mihawk should be the final fight as was set in the beginning and Mihawks promise of waiting at the top. Generally the opposition comes from Mihawk/Zoro haters because of power level implications.
2. Nasujuro: For a Japanese manga, the closest we got to Zoro of fighting a samurai and beating them was in TB (against Ryuma), but neither then nor in Wano (clashing against Kyoshiro or beating fodders doesnt count) was Zoro really made to fight a samurai for a real fight. Then we have the Kitetsu thing and Oda showing it in their first ever clash. Feels like a destined meeting of some sort.
3. Shiryu: No history, they are depicted as having different set of morals with Zoro looking like an honorable samurai while Shiryu looks like a sneaky/backstabbing and bloodthirsty one. There are other parallels though of Zoro being saved and set free by Luffy and joining under oath due to no other choice while Shiryu saves BB and joins of his own accord with no oath from either side. The biggest one though is that Shiryu is BBs No.2 and just as Luffy vs BB is destined so should Zoro vs Shiryu be.
4. Shamrock: At first he seemed like a Luffy opponent to show that Luffy has surpassed Shanks by beating his twin brother but then it turned out that Sham really is a swordsman with a special sword, a three headed dog with three swords and the dog is the guardian of hell. So there is also a good argument for Sham to be a Zoro opponent where Zoro surpasses Shanks level by beating Sham and becoming worthy of challenging Mihawk.
5. Loki: Personally not a fan of this since I dont think Loki will be the evil guy, the parallels of Loki and Zoro have been pointed out by Oda himself in some material (idk SBS or what it was). And similar to Sham, Zoro beating Loki would mean that Zoro has reached Shanks level and is ready to challenge Mihawk.
6. Sommer/Killingam: Not a fan of either matchup, I think they can serve as mid arc matchups like in Alabasta arc (Mr. 4 or 5) or Braham (Skypeia) or T Bone (EL) or Ryuma (TB) or Killer/Apoo/Hawkins in Wano. They dont really feel like Zoro opponents.
7. Dorry/Broggy: Just like Sommer/Killingham, not a fan of this matchup, they can serve as mid arc opponents. Dorry wields a sword but Broggy has history and connection with Zoro. Still think they are as puppet kings going to be defeated by Loki and Hajrudin.
As you can see there are quite a lot of matchups and I am not a fan of some of them. If the current arc is long enough like Wano then I can see Zoro getting some mid arc opponents who get low/neg diffed. However the major ones do require their own arcs and that is where the real problem lies. Imu joining the battlefield so early means that the WG is indeed the current arc opponent. And after this only one final arc remains a possibility. I think this is like DR to the Yonko saga, the saving the kingdom, the time bomb (kids getting kidnapped) is already present. The other possibility is that the kids do get kidnapped like Robin in W7 and the rescue happens by raiding EL/MG.
I thought it would be easier to let Shiryu kill Nasujuro and take Shodai Kitetsu. Shiryu has an attachment to his sword Raiu but there is a possibility that he takes Shodai. It would serve as good hype for him, BBs already have one Gorosei copied so them raiding a government facility or MG is very possible. I think the Shodai is the real thing that needs to be resolved during the fight (the reason why both said Kitetsu) and it might not make much difference if Shiryu wields it. Would be fun though if we get the Nasujuro vs Zoro fight and Nasujuro explains on how he fought Ryuma once and lost and before losing he tells Zoro that he has reached the level of Ryuma.
As much as Zoro fighting Sham would be fun (three sword vs three sword and lots and lots of agenda) I think it wont happen. There are two types of opponents, characters with established power levels like Nasujuro and Shamrock and the ones on the rise or unclear power level (Zoro and Shiryu). Creating hype for the latter can happen by beating the established ones. We can have Zoro defeating Nasujuro and resolving the Kitetsu (and possibly Ryuma) thing while Shiryu beats Shamrock and gets built up as the next opponent with proper hype, cause lets be honest Shiryu doesnt have that hype yet. Beating Ben for either Zoro or Shiryu wont be that effective because Ben is not a swordsman.
There have been theories/agendas of Shiryu beating Mihawk and stealing Yoru but the point of Mihawk is not just Yoru, it is about forging a black blade. A black blade stealer vs a black blade forger has levels of difference. If the stealer was actually good enough to wield the black blade then he would have already forged one in the first place.
What are your thoughts? @nik87 @Kōri no kokyū @mly90 @CbShadow @Nadel @Topi Jerami @L57 @ShishioIsBack etc.
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