This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
The Bad Guy Wins: Though James isn't as bad as usual this time since he's playing fairly, he beats May in the first round of the Pokéringer competition and Shane in the semi-finals. It's finally subverted in the final round against Ash, which the latter wins.
Break the Haughty: When last year's champion, Volt, ends up in the same block as Ash for the first round of the competition, he rudely tells Ash that he doesn't have a chance and won't even be a good warm-up. May even remarks that he's a total creep. Ash proves Volt wrong and beats him, to the latter's shock.
Continuity Nod: In "You Never Can Taillow", Taillow's debut episode where Ash caught it, Taillow was able to take multiple Thunderbolts from Pikachu and still keep going. Here, when Volt's Volbeat scores a direct hit on Taillow with Thunder, it likewise powers through it without slowing down. Later on, it's likewise able to fight off a direct hit from Dustox's Psybeam.
Early-Installment Weirdness: In the dub, Swellow sounds exactly like Grovyle. In later episodes, Darren Dunstan added a bird-like squawk to his voice.
Fighting Spirit: While flying through the flash tornado to reach the ring, Taillow briefly gets blown back by a particularly strong gust. Ash calls for it not to give up and directly quotes/invokes this trope: "Show me your fighting spirit!" Taillow responds by giving a determined war cry, then evolving into Swellow, allowing it to brave the winds much more easily.
Fighting Your Friend: Averted, as Shane, Ash, and May are all put in separate blocks for the first round of the competition. Their main hurdles are that Ash has to go against the reigning champion (whom he defeats), and May is pitted against decidedly-not-friend James (who beats her). Then Shane is taken out in the semi-final match against James, making the latter Ash's opponent in the final round instead of either of his friends.
Hoist by His Own Petard: To May's utter shock, James orders Dustox to ride Beautifly's Gust for an easy goal.
Out-Gambitted: Volt, the previous champion, uses the strategy of taking out the other competitors with his Volbeat's Thunder and then scoring once they're all down for the count and no one can stop him. Unfortunately for him, Ash's Taillow can shrug off electric attacks, which allows it to win.
Sweat Drop: May's and Beautifly's reactions when James wins their round by riding the latter's Gust right to the goal.
Took a Level in Badass: Taillow finally evolves in mid-battle against Dustox. From here on out, Swellow will become one of Ash's heavy-hitters for the rest of the AG saga.
