"Those tacky uniforms tell me you're not from Alola. Where are you from?"
"Kanto, you masked dork!"
"What's a Kanto?"
—Tupp and Jessie
Japanese Title: Fighting for a Crystal! Rocket Gang VS Skull Gang!!
Original Airdate: May 4, 2017
US Airdate: July 29, 2017
Battle of the Elite Mooks!
After casing Ash and Kiawe practicing their Z-Moves, Team Rocket decide they want a Z-Crystal. Their pursuit leads them to the Trial area of the Totem Raticate. But it also attracts the attention of Tupp, Rapp, and Zipp of Team Skull, who decide they also want that Z-Crystal.
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- And Call Him "George": Rapp spends half the episode latched onto Meowth, wanting him for her own.
- Bland-Name Product: Tupp, Zipp, and Rapp's respective names in the Japanese version are Tupper, Zip, and Wrap. Obviously, TPCi did not want to run afoul of Tupperware, S.C. Johnson,note or Alcoa.note
- The Dreaded: Bewear scares off Team Skull at the end, and also scares the Totem Raticate off from trying to exact revenge on Team Rocket in The Stinger for the Japanese edit.
- Now What?: Meowth tries to build his own Z-Ring for their stolen Darkium Z, but it doesn't do anything for them.note
- Sore Loser: Unlike the other Totem Pokemon who willingly award trainers Z-Crystals, Raticate isn't happy about it's defeat and tracks Team Rocket for the Darkium Z they nabbed in the Japanese Stinger. After one look at Bewear however, it decides to let it go and darts away.
- Team Rocket Wins: Jessie, James, and Meowth get the best of Tupp, Zipp, and Rapp. With a little intimidation from Bewear.
