The world of shonen manga was irrevocably altered by a single, brutal slash. In Jujutsu Kaisen, the long-anticipated clash between the King of Curses, Ryomen Sukuna, and the beloved Special Grade Sorcerer, Satoru Gojo, culminated in a moment that sent shockwaves through the fandom: Gojo’s instantaneous defeat. After six years of build-up and a battle spanning ten real-time serialization months, Sukuna delivered an attack that appeared to defy the very laws of the series, slicing Gojo in half and leaving fans stunned, heartbroken, and utterly bewildered.
This wasn't just any defeat; it was a perceived violation of established narrative rules. Gojo's "Infinity" technique was repeatedly hyped as an impenetrable defense, an absolute barrier against any attack. Yet, Sukuna's final strike tore through it as if it were nothing, sparking accusations of plot holes and forced writing. But what if this seemingly impossible feat isn't an inconsistency, but rather a demonstration of power scaling that other universes, particularly Dragon Ball Super, have long since normalized?
This is where the debate truly ignites, as Dragon Ball Super fans weigh in, arguing that Jujutsu Kaisen enthusiasts simply weren't prepared for the kind of reality-bending power expected at such an apex level of combat. They posit that Sukuna's move, far from being an anomaly, is a classic example of transcendent might that renders conventional physics meaningless – a concept Dragon Ball Super has explored with spectacular flair.
Unpacking the Shockwave: Gojo's "Impenetrable" Defense Meets Sukuna's Impossible Attack
For years, Satoru Gojo stood as the undisputed pinnacle of strength in Jujutsu Kaisen. His Cursed Technique, "Infinity," was presented as an absolute defense, manipulating space itself to ensure that any attack attempting to reach him would simply slow down to an infinite degree, never making contact. This made him seem virtually untouchable, a narrative cornerstone that built immense anticipation for any opponent capable of challenging him. Understanding [the intricacies of Gojo's Infinity technique](placeholder_link slug="gojo-infinity-technique-explained" text="the intricacies of Gojo's Infinity technique") is crucial to grasp why fans felt so blindsided by its bypass.
Then came the moment that shattered everything. Sukuna, pushed to the brink, unleashed a technique that didn't just bypass Infinity – it ignored it entirely. His "World-Cutting Slash" didn't travel through space; it cut space itself, directly bisecting Gojo. This instantaneous, universe-rending strike was delivered with such speed and precision that Gojo had no time to react, leading to his controversial demise. If you’re curious to explore [the true nature of Sukuna's World-Cutting Slash](placeholder_link slug="what-is-sukunas-world-cutting-slash" text="the true nature of Sukuna's World-Cutting Slash"), we delve deep into its mechanics.
The Heart of the Fandom Firestorm: Why Gojo's Defeat Stung So Deeply
The immediate aftermath was a maelstrom of fan outrage and disappointment. Many felt that Gojo, a character built up as invincible, was defeated in a way that contradicted the established rules of the series. The idea that his "impervious" Infinity could be so effortlessly nullified led to accusations of a sudden, unearned power-up for Sukuna, designed purely to advance the plot at the expense of character consistency. This perceived inconsistency fueled a heated debate, leading many to feel that the series had broken its own narrative framework for shock value. To get [the full scope of the Sukuna vs. Gojo controversy explained](placeholder_link slug="sukuna-vs-gojo-controversy-explained" text="the full scope of the Sukuna vs. Gojo controversy explained"), it's worth examining the various arguments and fan reactions.
The core frustration stemmed from a belief that the series had cheated, that Gojo's defeat wasn't earned through a clever exploitation of his weakness, but rather through a sudden, unexplained leap in Sukuna's capabilities. This sentiment sparked a cross-fandom "trolling war," with Dragon Ball fans gleefully jumping into the fray to offer their own interpretation.
Enter Dragon Ball Super: When Power Trumps Reality Itself
For Dragon Ball Super fans, the controversy surrounding Sukuna's world-cutting technique felt entirely familiar, even expected. Their universe has long established that when characters reach peak levels of power, the very fabric of reality becomes a plaything. Physics, space, and time are no longer rigid laws but rather malleable concepts that can be bent, broken, and manipulated by sheer force of will and immense energy.
A prime example of this comes from the 2018 movie Dragon Ball Super: Broly. The climactic battle between the fused warrior Gogeta and the legendary Super Saiyan Broly escalated to unimaginable levels. Their power exchanges weren't just impactful; they were literally tearing through dimensions. The sheer force of their blows repeatedly ripped holes in the space-time continuum, causing universal chaos and profound distortions. To witness [how Gogeta and Broly tore through the fabric of space-time](placeholder_link slug="gogeta-vs-broly-space-time-distortion" text="how Gogeta and Broly tore through the fabric of space-time") offers a clear precedent for Sukuna's attack.
Drawing the Parallels: Sukuna's "Impossible" Feat as a High-Level Standard
From the Dragon Ball Super perspective, Sukuna's multidimensional attack is neither novel nor surprising for a character operating at the pinnacle of supernatural ability. They argue that at such elevated tiers of combat, the laws of nature are merely suggestions. A fighter of Sukuna's caliber, possessing immense cursed energy and a profound understanding of techniques, would naturally begin to influence and manipulate the very dimensions around them. It's a natural progression of power, not a sudden plot twist. You might also be surprised to discover [other iconic reality-bending attacks in anime](placeholder_link slug="similar-reality-bending-attacks-in-anime" text="other iconic reality-bending attacks in anime") that showcase similar concepts across different series.
A critical parallel is drawn in the realm of underestimation. Dragon Ball fans point out that just as Gogeta initially underestimated Broly’s raw, escalating power, Gojo similarly underestimated Sukuna’s capacity to transcend conventional limits. Sukuna, moments from being obliterated, had to attempt a truly impossible feat – a desperate move only achievable by a sorcerer of his unparalleled skill. This pivotal mistake, the failure to anticipate the opponent's full, transcendent potential, is what ultimately sealed Gojo's fate. Delve deeper into [the arguments around whether Gojo truly underestimated Sukuna](placeholder_link slug="did-gojo-underestimate-sukuna" text="the arguments around whether Gojo truly underestimated Sukuna") and its implications.
The Fandom Showdown: Power Scaling and Transcendent Explanations
The resulting "trolling war" between Jujutsu Kaisen and Dragon Ball Super fans highlights a fundamental difference in how power scaling is perceived across different shonen universes. Dragon Ball fans argue that Jujutsu Kaisen fans simply "weren't ready" for power scaling on a level where absolute defenses can be circumvented by absolute power that manipulates reality itself. They see Sukuna's move as a logical, albeit extreme, extension of a character pushed to their absolute limits, not as a contradiction. For a deeper analysis of this cultural clash, explore [a deeper dive into the power scaling differences between Jujutsu Kaisen and Dragon Ball Super](placeholder_link slug="power-scaling-jujutsu-kaisen-vs-dragon-ball-super" text="a deeper dive into the power scaling differences between Jujutsu Kaisen and Dragon Ball Super").
Ultimately, the Dragon Ball Super comparison offers a compelling framework to "rescue" or at least contextualize Gojo's controversial defeat. It reframes Sukuna’s World-Cutting Slash not as a plot hole, but as an advanced display of power consistent with what we've seen from characters at the zenith of their strength in other, well-established shonen series. This perspective suggests that while Gojo's Infinity was impenetrable to conventional attacks, it simply couldn't withstand an assault that treated space and time as mere malleable concepts. It wasn't about breaking the rules of Infinity, but about operating on a plane where Infinity's rules no longer applied.
The ongoing discourse serves as a powerful reminder that while each manga has its own internal logic, the concept of transcendent power – where ultimate might bends reality – is a shared trope in the grand tapestry of shonen anime and manga. Whether you agree with the Dragon Ball Super explanation or not, it undeniable offers a potent lens through which to view one of modern anime's most shocking moments.