Summary
A handful of exciting showdowns have been set up forCobra Kai’sremaining episodes. Laying the groundwork for the highly anticipatedSekai Taikai tournament, the first five episodes ofCobra Kai’sfinal season set up the teams that Johnny Lawrence, Daniel LaRusso, and John Kreese will be leading in the show’s closing chapters. In doing so, the show provided a preview of the challenges to come.
Of course,Cobra Kaihas barely shown off therest of the Sekai Taikai teams, and has made a mystery of several of the upcoming matchups, especially when it comes to how the team events will be organized. However, the conflicts it’s spotlighted, the rules it’s laid out for the Sekai Taikai, and the fighters chosen for the teams, help provide an idea of which characters will be facing off with each other. As for who will win these prospective matchups, past results shine some light on that as well.
Kenny vs. Anthony
Predicted Winner: Kenny
WhileCobra Kai’scurrent focus is on the tournament, there’s little chance it loses sight of the characters outside of the competition. Among the non-Sekai Taikai fights that make sense for the remaining episodes is Kenny vs. Anthony. Not long after cooling things off between them,Cobra Kaigave Kenny another reason to despise Anthony when it saw him blame his former rival for his disqualification forMiyagi-do’s Sekai Taikai team.Cobra Kaicould theoretically resolve this misunderstanding without violence, but that would be against the nature of the show.
When this fight happens,it’s easy to see it happening similarly to what occurred during Mike Barnes' test.Anthony got in a hit, proving that he does have some degree of competence, but it was ultimately Kenny who prevailed. As it stands, there’s no reason to suspect that a rematch would have a different result. Simply put, Kenny is more experienced and more naturally talented than Anthony.
Johnny vs. Daniel
Predicted Winner: Johnny
AfterCobra Kaiseason 4, there was a sense that the series had answered theJohnny vs. Daniel debate: neither character appeared to be superior to the other. But with season 6 putting them at odds with each other again, it certainly looks like the show is gearing up for another chapter in their rivalry. A fight between them is clearly brewing, andwhile previous matchups might hint at another tie,Cobra Kaimay not been keen on repeating history. Instead, it may break the pattern and pick a definitive winner.
In that scenario,Johnny may have the best odds.Daniel LaRusso had an impressive win when he beat Terry Silver intheCobra Kaiseason 5 finale, but that doesn’t come close to what Johnny has accomplished as of late; within the last six episodes of the show, Johnny defeated five of Kim Sun-Yung’s adult students and beat Mike Barnes in a one-on-one fight. Mike Barnes was easily Daniel’s strongest opponent inThe Karate Kidmovies and someone he never truly surpassed.
If their fight is impromptu like the one with Barnes and doesn’t involve points, the advantage would most assuredly go to Johnny. Daniel may be highly skilled, but he has yet to demonstrate the endurance and toughness shared by Johnny, which was on full display during the fight at Silver’s house.
Tory vs. Sam
Predicted Winner: Tory
Tory may no longer have a personal issue with Sam, but the two characters are on a collision course nonetheless. As the female captains of their respective teams, it’s inevitable that the two face off during the Sekai Taikai tournament’s individual competitions. Though Tory “won” their last fight, it was Sam who earned that victory. But similar to how things have gone with Robby and Miguel in Cobra Kai,they’re so closely matched that their fights could easily go either way each time.
As it stands, it may be that Tory has the edge, even if it’s only a slight one. She’s focused, well-motivated, whereas Sam is likely to be much more conflicted about her feelings. Despite how things ended, there isn’t any true animosity between him, and their friendship could hold Sam back. Tory, on the other hand, is reeling with grief and is on track to become even more dedicated to her training. For Tory, winning the Sekai Taikai is her ultimate goal, and there’s no indication that Sam feels the same way.
Robby vs. Kwon
Predicted Winner: Kwon
Cobra Kai has made personal motivation a huge factor in its fights, as evidenced by how Robby’s relationship with Tory was used to turn the tide in his fight with Miguel. Robby had said earlier that his wish was to stand on the stage with Tory when Miyagi-do won the tournament. But no matter who wins, that possibility has been ruled out. This takes away a key part of what was driving Robby, and it remains to be if he’ll be able to keep that affecting his performance in the fights to come.
When considering what lies ahead for the male captain of the Miyagi-do team, Robby can’t afford to be distracted. Presumably, he’ll be facing Kwon, given that the latter is his Cobra Kai counterpart in the individual competition. Based on what’s been shown of Kwon’s skills thus far, the new season 6 villain is the best and most well-rounded fighter any of the kids inJohnny and Daniel’s dojohave fought to date. His speed, acrobatic moves, and sheer brutality in combat don’t offer a lot of confidence in Robby’s chances.
Cobra Kai vs. Miyagi-do
Predicted Winner: Miyagi-do
Kwon beating Robby could very well spell disaster forMiyagi-do’s team of six, but it may not outright end their hopes of winning the Sekai Taikai. The show has already put a great deal of emphasis on the “team” aspect of the competition, and that could wind up being their key to victory. It was specifically stated that there would be “team events,” so two-on-two, or perhaps even six-on-six matches are probably on the horizon.
With Kwon, Cobra Kai may have the best fighter on the board, but he hardly comes across as a team player. Meanwhile,Cobra Kaihas been gradually building the relationships between the various students in the Miyagi-do dojo, and these dynamics are sure to have an influence on the upcoming fights.
A knock against Miyagi-do is that it doesn’t have the strongest possible team without Kenny and Tory. Demetri and Devon are arguably the weak links of the group, as both had to resort to dirty tactics to get their spots on the team. Daniel’s doubts about the assembled lineup felt justified, but it’s worth noting that every member of the team brings something to the table. And with fighters like Miguel, Hawk, Robby, and Sam all fighting on the same side, Miyagi-do has a real shot at winning it all inCobra Kai’sfinal season.
Cobra Kai
Cast
Cobra Kai is a sequel series continuing the narrative of the Karate Kid saga, set 30 years after the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. It focuses on Johnny Lawrence seeking redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso, who strives to maintain balance in his life.
