History Awesome / PokemonTheSeries

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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ash_trophy.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:It took 22 years for Ash to finally win an official league!]]

* After Ash and Masked Royal's battle against the Revengers, Lillie was apparently motivated by their battle and she declares that she will participate in a Battle Royal next time, complete with [[FireballEyeballs fiery eyes]]. Looks like Lillie's taken another step from TheChick to LittleMissBadass.

Admit it; at his best, [[FriendToAllLivingThings Ash]] [[CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass can]] [[GeniusDitz be]] [[BrassBalls pretty]] [[HeroicSpirit awesome]].

--> '''Ash:''' "Spearows! Do you know who I am!? [[MyNameIsInigoMontoya I am Ash, from the town of Pallet!]] [[BadassBoast I'm destined to become the world's number one Pokémon master!]] I can't be defeated by the likes of you. I'm going to capture and defeat you all! You hear me!? Pikachu, go inside the Poké Ball, it's the only way!"\\

* [=SM007=] has Ash taking a lot of scratches from Litten while getting it to the Pokémon Center, but that pales in comparison to ''taking Persian's attack to protect Stoutland''. If that doesn't cement Ash's balls of steel, then [[GroinAttack the previous episode]] [[LiteralMinded already did]].

** Square up next is Pikachu vs. [[MightyGlacier Hariyama]]. The Arm Thrust Pokémon manages to be more than a match for Pikachu, blocking its fast movements with its own powerful Fake Out, Knock Off, and Arm Thrust. Despite this, Pikachu's nimble movements allow it to keep in the fight and outmaneuver Hariyama at several key points. Pikachu even manages to survive a hit from Hariyama's [[CastFromHitPoints Belly Drum boosted]] [[LimitBreak All-Out Pummeling]] and is still as spry as ever! Pikachu finishes the fight by running circles around Hariyama with Quick Attack before knocking it down with Iron Tail, then they finish the job by performing the [[LimitBreak Breakneck Blitz]], knocking Hariyama ''clear out of the ring''! Tapu Koko is so impressed that, when Hala is about to give Ash the normal Fightinium Z, he swoops in and replaces it with an Electrium Z, thus Ash has fully earned his Z-Crystal from the first episode of the season.

'''Meowth''': [[OhCrap UH OH!]] [[CaptainObvious I THINK HE'S MAD!!]]

* The Electabuzz line has served as TheRival for Pikachu throughout the series. He had not beaten any member of its line without teaming up on it. Against Volkner's Electivire, it wins, despite not being able to use any of its Electric moves (due to Motor Drive). It does so by beating Electivire down with [[ExtraOreDinary Iron]] [[WhipItGood Tail]].

** The finale of the battle ''cannot'' be understated just for how amazing it is. After an incredibly fierce battle against Charizard, Pikachu ends up being nailed with a MASSIVE Fire Blast, and despite all his efforts to stay conscious to continue the fight, he collapses and blacks out, seemingly losing the battle... As he's suddenly met with visions of ''all'' of Ash's Pokémon over the years (Even including temporary and former friends) cheering him on to keep going along with Ash himself, as Pikachu manages ''[[HeroicSecondWind to get back up]]'' with an incredible display of lightning unlike any before seen in the series - a display which, thanks to the sheer volume of golden lightning forming a bona-fide BattleAura, makes it look like Pikachu has gone ''[[GoldenSuperMode Super]] [[Anime/DragonballZ Saiyan]]''. It is just as awesome as it sounds.

* In "An Explosive Operation", after claiming Z2, Team Rocket finally do battle with Team Flare, who have since their debut been [[SmugSnake completely unimpressed]] [[UnknownRival by the trio]]. To elaborate it ''isn't'' a CurbstompBattle.

* In Sun and Moon, a Mareanie winds up on James' team and, alongside Jessie's recently caught Mimikyu, ''ends up beating Ash's current team in a straight-up Pokemon battle.'' [[NearVillainVictory The only reason Ash didn't have his Pokemon taken from him]] [[DiabolusExMachina was because Bewear stepped in to retrieve Team Rocket at the last second]], but the fact still stands: for the first time in the anime's long run, [[PunctuatedForEmphasis Team Rocket. Defeated. ASH.]] As a bonus, Ash had only recently defeated Kahuna Hala a couple episodes prior, ''without'' any Pokémon fainting, ''on the first try''. So one of the biggest [=CMoAs=] from Ash thus far is then topped off by a victory from Team Rocket. This is also fitting: both parties were around since the show's beginning, so it's nice to finally see Team Rocket on equal footing with Ash for once, let alone actually beating him.

** In [=BW116=], he effortlessly takes Iris's Dragonite to school. Special mention to the DeathGlare followed by the [[MightyRoar roar]] [[GaleForceSound he lets]] out after taking a Dragon Rush for [[NoSell absolutely no damage whatsoever.]]

** During Ash's battle with Harrison, Snorlax comes out sleeping. Hypno uses [[DreamStealer Dream Eater]]. Snorlax wakes up ''very angry''. [[OhCrap Hypno realizes its mistake.]] [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown Hyper Beam from Snorlax occurs]]. Let's just say Hypno won't be doing ''that'' again in a hurry.

* One-shot character Giselle earned herself a status as EnsembleDarkHorse for the following reasons: [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold all of her advice, in spite of the harsh and back-handed way she gives it, is spot-on and useful]]; her Graveler ''[[CurbStompBattle annihilated]]'' Misty's Starmie [[OneHitKO with one hit]] [[ScissorsCutsRock in spite of the type disadvatage]], and that was after pointing out said Pokemon was stronger than average; and she's the ''only'' female character about whom Ash ever showed attraction (Although this may be an example of EarlyInstallmentWeirdness on Ash's part as his ObliviousToLove character trait hadn't caught on at that point). There’s also one for her back-handed advice: ''it netted Ash a badge''. You see, in Giselle's episode Pikachu didn't have non-electric attacks yet, something Giselle both criticized immediately before taking shamelessly advantage of, but five episodes later Pikachu would use Quick Attack against Surge's Raichu to win.

* One that always stood out among the Indigo League was Ash vs. Blaine. Pikachu has just defeated Rhydon with the [[MemeticMutation "Aim for the Horn"]] nonsense, and Ash is confident Pikachu can beat whatever Blaine sends out. Cue Magmar rising out a pool of lava beneath the gym with [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic some of the most epic]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMPvoVAX2XU music in the entire series playing]]. Then cue CurbStompBattle that nearly ends with Pikachu falling into the same lava pit.

* In "Facing The Grand Design" we come across a group of benevolent Malamar watching over a forest just next to the recurring evil Malamars' current scheme. When the latter discover them interacting with the heroes, they decide it would be a fun idea to [[KickTheDog blast the forest and all the innocent Pokemon]] they watch over. [[PapaWolf This wasn't]] [[BullyingTheDragon their wisest strategy....]]

* [[TheBusCameBack Korrina's return]] in episode 25 of ''Journeys''. Not only was it great to see her and Lucario again, but it also paves the way for other previous companions to return someday, something fans have anticipated since the reveal of ''Journeys'' and its region-hopping premise. Even better, after three years of the series not being alluded to at all in ''Sun & Moon'', the fan-favorite Kalos era was finally acknowledged by the show, in addition to having the first major returning character! Not bad for someone who was originally a [[GuestStarPartyMember temporary]] SixthRanger for the main group.

* How does Bounsweet react when she sees Mallow, Ash, Pikachu, and Rowlet get snared by Team Rocket? She [[TookALevelInBadass evolves into Steenee]], and single-handedly [[CurbStompBattle beats Meowth]] [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown into a bloody pulp]]. Then she does the same to Jessie, James, and Wobbuffet.

** The finale of the battle ''cannot'' be understated just for how amazing it is. After an incredibly fierce battle against Charizard, Pikachu ends up being nailed with a MASSIVE Fire Blast, and despite all his efforts to stay conscious to continue the fight, he collapses and blacks out, seemingly losing the battle... As he's suddenly met with visions of ''all'' of Ash's Pokémon over the years (Even including temporary and former friends) cheering him on to keep going along with Ash himself, as Pikachu manages ''[[HeroicSecondWind to get back up]]'' with an incredible display of lightning unlike any before seen in the series - a display which, thanks to the sheer volume of golden lightning, makes it look like Pikachu has gone [[GoldenSuperMode Super]] [[Anime/DragonballZ Saiyan]]. It is just as awesome as it sounds.

** The finale of the battle ''cannot'' be understated just for how amazing it is. After an incredibly fierce battle against Charizard, Pikachu ends up being nailed with a MASSIVE Fire Blast, and despite all his efforts to stay conscious to continue the fight, he collapses and blacks out, seemingly losing the battle... As he's suddenly met with visions of ''all'' of Ash's Pokémon over the years (Even including temporary and former friends) cheering him on to keep going along with Ash himself, as Pikachu manages to get back up with an incredible display of lightning unlike any before seen in the series, preparing to finish the battle with a HeroicSecondWind. And the final attack that decides it all? An improvised Thunderbolt (Which almost resembles a Volt Tackle in this case) and Fire Blast (which takes the form of an improvised Flare Blitz) in a head-to-head melee clash that Pikachu manages to overpower Charizard in, winning the battle and Ash the title of World Champion.

** And then Ash ''wins''. That kid from Pallet Town we've been watching for so long? He's now officially '''''the greatest Pokémon trainer in the world.'''''

*** After the episode aired in the real world, "HE DID IT" became one of the top trending on Twitter as everyone celebrated Ash's win.

** The finale of the battle ''cannot'' be understated just for how amazing it is. After an incredibly fierce battle against Charizard, Pikachu ends up being nailed with a MASSIVE Fire Blast, and despite all his efforts to stay conscious to continue the fight, he collapses and blacks out, seemingly losing the battle... As he's suddenly met with visions of ''all'' of Ash's Pokémon over the years (Even including temporary and former friends) cheering him on to keep going along with Ash himself, as Pikachu manages to get back up with an incredible display of lightning unlike any before seen in the series, preparing to finish the battle with a HeroicSecondWind. And the final attack that decides it all? An improvised Thunderbolt (Which almost resembles a Volt Tackle in this case) and Fire Blast in a head-to-head melee clash that Pikachu manages to overpower Charizard in, winning the battle and Ash the title of World Champion.

In ''[=JN130=]'', Ash is put into severe pressure because of Leon's Dragapult and its Dragon Tail, which weakened Dragonite and Dracovish, leaving them fatigued for the rest of the match. And Dragapult even defeated Lucario despite the fact that he was Mega Evolved. When she returns to battle after Lucario lost, Dragonite masters her new Dra-Gonite Meteor technique and turns it into a Seismic Toss-like finisher, breaking her losing streak and finally defeating that bothersome Dragapult.

** ''[=JN045=]'' arrives to protect Ash and Pikachu from Chairman Rose's Copperajah and Ferrothorn with ''one paw each'' blocking their attacks. Then it evolves into Lucario and knocks them down with Aura Sphere! The lead up to the latter is awesome as well. Ash first commands Lucario to use Vacuum Wave, but then Lucario uses his Aura powers to tell Ash that he has learned a more powerful version of Vacuum Wave, ''Aura Sphere.'' Ash gets it and commands it to use Aura Sphere.

** In ''[=JN124=]'', Dracovish fights Cynthia's Roserade, which healed from the burn from Gengar's Will-O-Wisp thanks to its special Ability Natural Cure, and gets poisoned by a Poison Jab. However, this just makes Dracovish enraged, and it defeats Roserade by completely going through Leaf Storm with Dragon Rush, and when Ash decides that it should switch out because of the poison damage, it refuses to be recalled, and while it lost against Milotic, it did major damage with Fishious Rend before getting KO'd.

* Iris, Gary ''and'' Dawn returning in guest star roles in ''Journeys'', all in close succession. Even better once Serena, Alain and Paul returned as well; with Alain even being part of the Masters Eight!

* [=JN132=]: This is Pikachu's crowning moment episode, literally. Despite facing Leon's Cinderace and the undefeated Charizard alone, Pikachu manages to prevail and beat BOTH of them, giving Ash the victory and the title of Monarch. No amount of words can do justice to the sheer feats Pikachu pulled to make this happen. And the last attack Ash give's to Pikachu contains the ''original'' theme song for a grand ThemeSongPowerUp!

* Ash versus Leon. A four-part battle where Ash, per a Corocoro article about Leon's past battles, becomes the first trainer to ever defeat more than two of his Pokemon in a single battle. Regardless of the end result, Ash has become the person to most push Leon just by the end of the second part of the four part battle.

*** After the episode aired in the real world HE DID IT became one of the top trending on Twitter as everyone celebrated Ash's win.

[[caption-width-right:350:It took 22 years for Ash to finally win an official league...]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fhruwpwvqaaeawv.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:...and three years later, he became the very best, like no one ever was!]]

[[caption-width-right:350:It took 22 years for Ash to finally win an official league!]]

[[caption-width-right:350:..and three years later, He become world champion!!]]

[[caption-width-right:350:it took 22 years for Ash to finally win an official league!]]

[[caption-width-right:350:..and three years later, He become world-champ]]

[[caption-width-right:350:...and it took 22 years for Ash to finally win an official league!]]

* [=JN132=]: This is Pikachu's crowning moment episode, literally. Despite facing Leon's Cinderace and the undefeated Charizard alone, Pikachu manages to prevail and beat BOTH of them, giving Ash the victory and the title of Monarch. No amount of words can do justice to the sheer feats Pikachu pulled to make this happen.

* The battle between Leon and Ash really shows the [[CurbStompBattle strength of the undefeatable Champion]]. [[TheAce Ash's Pikachu]] only manages to land ''two'' attacks on Charizard and one of those was with the use of a surprise Gigantimax while the latter was still at normal size. The two later trade signature moves but by the end of the battle, Pikachu is knocked out while Charizard has nary a scratch on him.

** ''[=JN125=]'' Lucario accomplishes an unprecedented feat in the series, he managed to hand Cynthia's Garchomp's her first ever on screen defeat. For years, this Garchomp has been portrayed as this monster who has defeated every challenger in her wake. Granted she had to deal with a determined Sirfetch'd, but Lucario was in a worse shape as well.

** Being the one responsible for the likely first defeat of Tobias's Darkrai. In an incredibly awesome moment, Ash has lost two mons to Darkrai. It's clear he is going to lose; Darkrai is too powerful and just wallops [[CurbStompBattle Heracross, Torkoal, and Gible]] with ease. Even after trying to outmatch Tobias by having Heracross use (the admittedly clever) tactic of turning sleep against Darkrai, he just can't get ahead. Then Sceptile comes in. The fight is much the same, with Darkrai walloping Scepitle before putting it to sleep. At this point, everyone's basically decided Ash was going to lose...then Scepitle hears Ash's voice, ''wakes up almost immediately, and in a desperate bid to beat down Darkrai and give Ash an edge, beats the heck out of Darkrai with Leaf Blade.'' This is badass for two reasons: first, Sceptile has just been given the honor of being the third Pokemon Ash has used to beat a Legendary/Mythical (The first being Charizard, who defeated Noland's Articuno, and the second being Pikachu, who defeated Brandon's Regice) cementing Scepitle as one of his best mons. Second...this is the first time Tobias has had a loss on his side. All through Sinnoh, up to and after his battle with Ash, Darkrai has destroyed the competition. Sceptile just beat IT. Not only is it amazing, Darkrai was using nothing more than Dark Void and Dream Eater, the latter of which restores Darkrai's HP, so any progress Ash made beforehand was undone. Sceptile basically took down Darkrai in his prime, showing just how strong Sceptile really is.