Warning: Spoilers ahead forCobra Kaiseason 6, part 3!Just beforeCobra Kaiended for good, the show finally addressed one of the show’s most unrealistic quirks, and it makes far more sense than the alternative. Although largely quite a grounded story,Cobra Kaitakes place in a slightly heightened reality. Certain physical feats that would place characters in the same group as minor superheroes in other franchises tend to take place on a relatively routine basis within the world of the show. However, one of these more fantastical elements is rectified just beforeCobra Kai’s grand finale.
Some of thebestCobra Kaicharactersoriginated in theKarate Kidmovies. So,the universe’s rules apply to everyone who has appeared in the combinedCobra KaiandKarate Kidtimeline. As such, almost every figure in the larger franchise has achieved something that would raise eyebrows in the real world. That being said, one line from William Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence has now quietly retconned one of the saga’s more notable discrepancies.
Johnny Finally Admits In Cobra Kai Season 6, Part 3, That Age IS A Factor In The Show’s Karate Fights
Zabka’s character voices an unexpected concern in “Ex-Degenerate”
Johnny’s tie-breaker fight against Lewis Tan’s Sensei Wolf is one ofCobra Kaiseason 6’s biggest scenes, as well as the moment that is arguably the point of the entire show - Johnny’s redemption. When Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) is preparing his former nemesis for a fight that will decide the outcome ofCobra Kai’s Sekai Taikai, Johnny voices a specific concern about his opponent that has never seemingly impacted any fighter in the saga’s storied history. In short, it comes down to the fact thatSensei Wolf has the edge due to being far younger than Johnny.
“Every fight I’ve ever gone into, I always knew I was gonna win. Even if I lost, it didn’t matter, ‘cause I knew in my heart I could’ve won. But Wolf…He’s younger, he’s stronger, no one’s ever hit me harder.”
- Johnny to Daniel in Cobra Kai season 6, episode 15, “Ex-Degenerate.”
There have been several instances inCobra Kaithat have pitted characters against each other with a significant age gap between them. For example, Daniel has fought Sensei Kreese (Martin Kove), and Johnny has also exchanged blows with his former sensei. On these occasions, it has felt like a relatively level playing field, which doesn’t really make much sense.Cobra Kaihad simply allowed these fights to be competitive so that old feuds from the original movies could be settled. Now,Johnny’s admission about Sensei Wolf changes these earlier fights, implying they were only so even because of psychological factors.
Johnny Beating Sensei Wolf Is Even Better After Cobra Kai’s Age-Gap Correction
Sensei Wolf fell to Johnny against all odds
Without Johnny’s brief admission that he was concerned about the age gap between himself and Wolf,Cobra Kaiwould have been quietly implying that Zabka’s character was heading into the fight at the same physical level as his 17-year-old self. Obviously, this isn’t realistic, but the franchise has always kind of hinted that a fighter’s ability only ever went up and potentially even plateaued, but never came back down.
Zabka’s character going up against an opponent on the world stage in the same place where he lost to Daniel in 1984’s All-Valley Tournament was always destined to be a tough battle for Johnny from a mental perspective. However, Johnny’s concerns about how much younger and stronger Sensei Wolf was meantCobra Kai’s newly-reinstated leader had to dig far deeperthan just overcoming the scenario’s psychological obstacles. Because of this, it makes Johnny’s finalCobra Kaivictory all the more rewarding for himself and for the show’s viewers.
