Japanese Title: Satoshi Participates! The Pokémon World Championships!!
Original Airdate: March 22, 2020
US Airdate: September 11, 2020
Ash has officially entered the World Coronation Series in hopes of having a rematch with Leon. His first match in the competition brings him to the Vermilion Gym, where he is set to face off against its acting Gym Leader, Visquez.
- Art Evolution: During Visquez's flashback about Surge, he's got his HeartGold and SoulSilver design but retains his open vest.
- Bait-and-Switch: Once again Ash ends up facing a trainer with a Raichu and having to deal with it's significant power advantage compared to Pikachu. While at first he goes into the usual strategy of having Pikachu try to use it's more agile and speedy tricks to get the advantage, this time Ash swaps Pikachu out with Gengar instead and fights and defeats Raichu head on with another fully evolved Pokemon.
- Call-Back: This episode is essentially a huge one to Ash's battle with Lt. Surge. From Visquez stating how Surge spoke of Ash fondly to Pikachu using its tail as a lightning rod.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Gengar to Raichu with the use of its psychic and ghost powers.
- Forgot About His Powers: Gengar managed to avoid Raichu's tail by letting it pass through but didn't do the same with Electrode.
- Mythology Gag: Pikachu running on Visquez's Electrode is faster, but it still looks familiar.
- Not So Stoic: Despite its aloof behavior upon evolving in the last episode, Raboot does show concern during the battle and is even implied to smile a bit when Ash gets the victory.
- Shout-Out: Visquez is a walking reference to Private Vasquez in Aliens.
