The 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai is the last major story arc before the events of Dragon Ball Z and the Saiyan arc. In the manga, the tournament immediately transitions into the Saiyan arc the next chapter, whereas in the anime, the tournament transitions into a five episode filler arc that ends up capping off the first anime adaptation. Either way, the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai very much feels like a turning point for Dragon Ball.

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The characters are stronger than ever, the action is far more intense than it was before, and most of the main cast is more or less fully developed by this point. The 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai was never planned as the end of the series, but it functions bafflingly well as a prospective conclusion to Dragon Ball— better than any other story arc, frankly. The 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai also happens to be the only tournament to refuse to waste a single slot on non-plot relevant characters.

8 Chichi

Chi Chi looking angry in Dragon Ball Z.

Chichi doesn’t manage to get in a single hit on Goku, but that doesn’t make their quarter-finals match up any less exciting. As Goku has no clue who Chichi is, his forgotten fiance throws jab after jab at him, even using her own version of the Turtle School style, presumably learned from none other than Gyumao. It’s a fun fight to watch even if it ends with Goku easily knocking Chichi out of the arena.

Chichi being in the tournament at all also suggests just how powerful she is. The characters are stronger than they’ve ever been, Goku himself just getting done training with God, and here Chichi is, not only keeping up, but giving her future husband a little bit of trouble. Not even to make him worry, but surely enough to impress even Son Goku.

7 Cyborg Tao Pai Pai

Few moments in Dragon Ball are more understatedly insane than Tao Pai Pai— an assassin readers watched Goku blow up with a grenade— coming back as a cyborg ready to kill Tenshinhan and Goku in the ring. Alongside Piccolo’s presence as Majunior, Cyborg Tao Pai Pai complicates the already fairly complex 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai. Unfortunately for him, things have changed since the Red Ribbon Army arc.

Not only is Goku much stronger than Tao Pai Pai currently is, he’s too strong to deal with him narratively. Instead, Tenshinhan is left to clean up Tao Pai Pai’s mess, completing his character arc in the process. Tenshinhan has gotten so strong, in fact, he’s able to just tank Tao Pai Pai’s attacks and effortlessly defeat him. Cyborg Tao Pai Pai clearly was a threat, but the main characters are just so powerful by the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai.

6 Yamcha

Unfortunately, Yamcha ends up fighting Kami in the form of Shen, preventing him from making proper use out of three years of training. This is still one of Yamcha’s more graceful losses, but do keep in mind this is the same fight where Yamcha gets headbutted in the balls, and not the Dragon variety. For as well choreographed as the fight is, that’s still embarrassing.

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But the point of the fight is to say less about Yamcha and more about Shen. Really, the entire second half is more or less dedicated to Yamcha not only sneak attacking God, but gaining the upper hand. Kami even comments on how much potential Yamcha has. Unfortunately, this ends up going nowhere.

5 Kuririn

Kuririn has the displeasure of fighting Majunior in the quarter-finals, but he ends up putting up his single best fight in the franchise. Kuririn not only shows off that he’s learned how to fly, his Ki attacks are far more advanced than anything audiences had seen up to that point. It can be easy to overlook, but Kuririn sets a lot of important precedents in this fight.

He’s also strong enough to nearly win by ring out and make Piccolo second guess his entire plan for world domination. He still intends to take over the world, but Kuririn forces Piccolo to recognize just how difficult a task it’ll end up being.

4 Tenshinhan

Anime Tien copies of himself

With his introduction in the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai, Tenshinhan more or less becomes Dragon Ball’s deuteragonist, a role he fulfills until the very end of the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai. He’s Goku’s right hand man in this arc. He’s the supporting character with the most page time, and he even completes his character arc in his fight with Tao Pai Pai.

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Tenshinhan is basically on a weighted gi Goku’s level, if a bit faster. Tenshinhan might not be able to compete with a full power Goku, but he at least has the skills to fight back and pose an interesting challenge. The Saiyan arc would immediately make Tenshinhan irrelevant, but at least he goes out on a good note with the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai.

3 Shen

Under the guise of Shen, Kami-sama enters the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai in attempt to stop Piccolo from taking over the world. It’s a rather bold move from God, but it makes for some pretty good drama. Kami isn’t used well later, but Shen adds something to the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai that other arcs in Dragon Ball didn’t have.

Shen also puts up a great fight in both of his matches. His bout against Yamcha is the only time Kami fights in the manga, which is frankly incredible. His match against Piccolo is less a match and more a Mafuba Moment, but it’s a nice way of taking him out of the story considering how strong Kami clearly was.

2 Majunior

Piccolo

The reincarnation of Piccolo Daimao himself, Majunior entered the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai ready to kill Son Goku and take over the world. It’s a pretty compelling motivation and that Majunior wants to take his time with Goku allows both characters to interact more. By the end of their fight, it feels like they’ve fully fleshed out their dynamic and evolved it to its next step.

Piccolo and Goku basically go blow for blow throughout the tournament, wearing one another down until the other is left in pieces. Piccolo manages to get the upper hand a few times, rendering Goku paralyzed, but Son’s use of flight as a hail Mary ends up winning him the fight.

1 Son Goku

Anime Dragon Ball World Martial Arts Tournament Piccolo Goku Fight

This is one of the few times in the series where Goku is, without question, the single strongest character in Dragon Ball. It’s only fitting that he formally become the Strongest Under the Heavens in this tournament. While Piccolo manages to gain the upper hand every now and again, Goku consistently pushes back, outsmarting Piccolo at every turn.

Goku saving his flight as a secret weapon is inspired on his part. Really, everything Goku does here is in this tournament is brilliant. Nothing will ever top Goku using his feet for a Kamehameha. The 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai is arguably Goku at his best. Where else does Goku manage to defeat an opponent after having all his limbs broken?

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