I’m going to skip around a bit, because much of this episode is just the bracket being filled out while the fighters all stand around chatting. It’s supposed to be a random draw, but Goku asks Buu to cheat for him, much the same way Chiaotzu once rigged the 22nd World Tournament.
Also, 18 calls Krillin a chicken for not entering the tournament himself, and I have to assume this is some sort of weird foreplay they do in public.
Marron’s a teenager at this point, although you can’t really tell by looking here. I have no idea how old Bulla is supposed to be, but I can’t help but think Dragon Ball Super got it wrong. Master Roshi has different sunglasses in this future world, but if I were Krillin and Bulma, I wouldn’t let him anywhere near my daughters.
ANyway, the whole reason Goku wanted to enter this tournament was so he could face this Earthling who’s supposed to be incredibly strong. Vegeta tagged along to see what he was talking about, but he still doesn’t get it. Goku is using Buu to fix it so he can fight his dream opponent in the first round, but who is he?
Turns out it’s this kid.
Here’s the deal: When Goku killed Kid Buu, he wished for him to be reincarnated as a good guy, so they could fight again some day. Goku thinks King Yemma must have decided to give Goku what he wanted, so he arranged for Kid Buu to be reincarnated as a human. And that’s why this part of the story is set ten years after the Kid Buu fight. It was the only way for Kid Buu’s reincarnation to grow up to an age where he could fight Goku. Also, this works out nicely, as the boy is about the same height and build as Kid Buu was.
Goku isn’t sure how he knows this kid is Kid Buu reborn, but he just does. Also, the boy’s name is “Uub”, which is “Buu” backwards. That’s bullshit, but I believe it!
Up in the VIP room, Piccolo and Dende overhear this with their Namekian super-hearing, and Dende seems surprised. Pretty sure there was a scene in Dragon Ball Super where he already knew about Uub before this, but okay.
As for Uub himself, he’s starting to question his decision to enter this tournament. Like Nam in the 21st tournament, he entered to use the prize money to support his village, but he’s starting to realize that there’s a lot of strong people here, and maybe he’s not good enough to win this thing.
As for the tournament, there’s only thirteen participants. Twelve of them fight in brackets, and the winner goes on to face Mr. Satan in the final round. I don’t know if that means Satan is in the tournament with a lot of byes, or what. The matchups are as follows:
Pan vs. Mo Kekko aka Wild Tiger!
Son Goku vs. Uub!
Captain Chicken vs. Nareg aka Kirano!
Majin Buu vs. Goten!
Trunks vs. Otokosuki!
Vegeta vs. Knock!
Yeah, this lineup sucks. Let me work through the small fry real quick.
Wild Tiger is this big dude who resents being pitted against a four-year-old. His job is to recreate that match Krillin had with the big fat guy at the 25th Budokai.
Otokosuki is a leatherboy and probably another sign that this cartoon hasn’t aged well in places. I want to say Otokosuki is an offensive stereotype, but I don’t know enough about him to say for sure. I’m pretty sure Toriyama didn’t draw him this strip to add diversity to the cast. Anyway, he really wants to fuck Trunks.
Knock sucks, so Vegeta hits him once and he has to be stretchered out of the ring before the matches start.
Nareg is a pretty boy, and I keep thinking he’s Jewel from the 25th Budokai, but he’s a whole other blonde pretty-boy type. We learn absolutely nothing about him, so let’s just make up a backstory for him. Uh, he entered the tournament to take revenge on Mr. Satan for murdering his sister, but it was actually King Choppa wearing a Mr. Satan costume.
“Goten”, sometimes referred to as “Son Goten”, was actually a minor character in the Buu Saga, but he got killed off-screen when Buu destroyed the earth. He’s only in this tournament because his dad made him enter.
Anyway, Bulla really liked the part where her dad killed Knock. Good for her, because he won’t be doing anything else for the rest of this show.
All right, let’s get on with this. I’m glad the World Tournament Announcer is still enjoying these things, but this tournament’s a joke and the matches are all rigged.
I dig this girl on the left. That’s a cool look. Is her boyfriend wearing a Potara earring? The Knock merch looks better on him than it does on Knock.
Anyway, Pan obliterates Wild Tiger, so that takes care of the only match in this thing that goes to a finish.
EVEN CAPTAIN CHICKEN IS AFRAID!
Next, it’s Goku vs. Uub, the match Goku’s been waiting for all these years. But Uub’s got stage fright, so Goku has to use HEEL HEAT to get him in a fighting mood.
#HEELGOKU
Goku runs down Uub’s favorite sports teams and tells him his hometown sucks.
Then he threatens to kill Uub, which is kind of going too far, buddy. Just tell him your shoes are worth more than his house.
I don’t know what’s dumber, that Goku is using all this nonsense, or that it actually gets a rise out of the kid.
Then Goku just flat out says Uub’s parents are made out of shit. Insert Vic Mignogna Defmation Suit Joke here.
Then he kicks him in the face. #HEELGOKU taking no prisoners.
HE’S UUBING UP!
Uub’s out of control! He’s had all he can stands, and he can’t stands no more! He’s ready to beat the crap out of Goku...!
