When it comes to action Shonen series like Bleach, Naruto, One Piece, and others, fans love to ask: "what if the hero fought so-and-so?" Not everyone in an action anime will ever do battle with one another, so it's up to fan speculation to decide who would triumph in hypothetical matchups.
This is popular for Bleach, too, and fans have probably mentally squared off Ichigo against every foe there is. But what about Kenpachi Zaraki, the thuggish Captain of Squad 11? He has battled some of Bleach's fiercest foes and won, from the Quinta Espada to multiple Sternritters. Who are five more characters Kenpachi could probably beat down in battle? And who are five enemies would would trounce him? Kenpachi is tough, but he can't beat them all!
10 Can defeat: Grimmjow Jaegerjaques
In most of Kenpachi's favorable matchups, such as this one, the duel would be power vs power. And goodness knows that no one can beat Kenpachi when it comes to sheer strength! Grimmjow is the Sexta Espada (6th), but Kenpachi defeated the 5th, Nnoitora Gilga, in the anime. If Kenpachi can handle that, he can handle Grimmjow too, even against the full power of Grimmjow's release, Pantera. Grimmjow could definitely put some nasty cuts on Kenpachi, but he would exhaust himself and succumb to the battle maniac known a Kenpachi Zaraki!
9 Can't defeat: Sosuke Aizen
The thirteen Captains of the Court Guard Squads all have the same rank, but they do not have the same level of power! Aizen can defeat nearly any of his peers, and with just one kido, Aizen knocked the towering Sajin Komamura out of a fight. With his extraordinary speed and cutting power, advanced kido, and the illusion power of Kyoka Suigetsu, Aizen would slice Kenpachi in half before Kenpachi could land a single attack. Aizen is simply too flexible and creative an opponent for Kenpachi to take on, even without his shikai.
8 Can defeat: Toshiro Hitsugaya
Several Captains and ex-Captains will appear on this list, and the trend continues with the child prodigy, Toshiro Hitsugaya of Squad 10. Yes, Toshiro is a child prodigy, and even Shunsui Kyoraku commented on this boy's limitless potential. But that's in the future, and Toshiro probably couldn't match Kenpachi's overwhelming spiritual pressure for long in a duel. No doubt Kenpachi could shatter the ice of even Daiguren Hyorinmaru, and this boy wonder's career would be cut short. Poor kid.
7 Can't defeat: Barragan Luisenbarn
Several Espada will appear on this list, and while Kenpachi could take on Grimmjow, it's the other way around against the Segunda Espada! He was almost definitely a Vasto Lorde, and with a zanpakuto, Barragan is an apocalypse on legs. In his sealed form, Barragan can rapidly age and dissolve steel, flesh, kido, anything that comes too close. In his released form, Arrogante, his decay aura is even wider and stronger, and his Respira (death breath) can kill or dissolve anything whatsoever. Kenpachi's sword, spiritual power, and flesh would crumble to dust in the face of power like this.
6 Can defeat: Sajin Komamura
Poor Sajin. He's a good-hearted giant, but among the Captains, he's probably among the least effective in battle. His strength and Bankai are impressive, but they are merely brute strength. With direct attacks like those, Sajin would have a hard time landing a fatal blow on Kenpachi. No matter what Sajin did, Kenpachi would fight on, and land a devastating blow across Sajin's chest, ending the duel right then and there. Like Grimmjow, he'd be fighting Kenpachi on the latter's terms, and that does not bode well for Captain Komamura.
5 Can't defeat: Soi Fon
Here's another Captain for Kenpachi to fight, and this time, Kenpachi doesn't stand a chance. Soi Fon is a petite woman, and she probably weighs half what Kenpachi does. But she's a master martial artist, and her shikai, Suzumebachi, easily trumps whatever Kenpachi would bring to a duel. Soi Fon is quick and agile, and no doubt she could evade Kenpachi's blunt sword strokes. Once in position (and before Kenpachi can react), Soi Fon can sting her opponent twice in the same spot, and Kenpachi drops dead. No ifs, ands, or buts. The sting of Soi Fon's shikai takes no prisoners!
4 Can defeat: Byakuya Kuchiki
We're back to Captains whom Kenpachi could certainly handle in a fight. Byakuya is a flexible and smart fighter, having shunpo, a diverse array of kido, and shikai and bankai to offer. No doubt Byakuya would soon leave Kenpachi covered in nasty injuries from Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, but mere injuries don't stop Kenpachi. Ultimately, Kenpachi would use kendo and split Byakuya in two!
3 Can't defeat: Kusuke Urahara
Honestly, can anyone defeat Kisuke in a battle? It doesn't seem that way, since Kisuke is packing a zanpakuto, Captain-level spiritual pressure, incredible kido, and a deep knowledge of science on par with Mayuri Kurotsuchi. Kenpachi can swing all he likes, but Kisuke can dodge it all, and study the patterns of Kenpachi's muscles while he's at it. Sooner or later, Urahara will piece together the perfect, multi-step plan to take down Kenpachi, and execute it. Maybe he'll slice Kenpachi's tendons, or clog up his spirit energy or even trap him in some other dimension.
2 Can defeat: Renji Abarai
If Kenpachi can handle Byakuya, then he can also handle Byakuya's subordinate, Renji! Renji has his own bankai, Hihio Zabimaru, but that's not going to cut it against Squad 11's Captain. Besides, Renji can't even perform kido on the same level as Byakuya. Interesting note: Renji used to belong to Squad 11, which is where his tattoos came from. Kenpachi would be quite curious to see how far Renji has come since then.
1 Can't defeat: Zommari Rureaux
A clear pattern has emerged by now. Kenpachi can handle any opponent who fights with brute strength like he does, but he will not fare well against tricky opponents who use kido or unusual abilities. Another Espada finishes this list, the Septima Espada Zommari Rureax. First of all, Zommari's sonido is so fast, he creates afterimages that will bleed if cut. Kenpachi can't keep up with that. And most of all, Zommari's release, Brujeria, can look upon an item with its enchanted eyes and control it! Zommari would have an easy time using that power all over Kenpachi's body, and the Squad 11 Captain would up slicing himself to death as Zommari's puppet. KO!