If Ash can be both a research assistant and PWC competitor then why can't Gary?
nobody's saying that he can't, I just don't want him to throw away being a researcher out of no where when the writers put him on that path in the first place, and unlike Brock who never really did anything with his original goal before switching to a doctor, Gary actually got places in research like reviving fossils and studying the legendary pokemon in sinnoh, if they decided to retcon him back into being a full time trainer then they better have a good reason for it.
Also, I feel like putting him into the ultra tier off the bat if he does partake in the PWC is abit extreme, granted I wouldn't mind him being the trainer Ash has to fight to get into the Ultra tier, but I don't feel like Gary should automatically be that high just because he was Ash's first rival, also Just because he was "steps ahead" in the past doesn't mean that's how things should work now, besides in the end it didn't matter, Ash got further than he did in both leagues they were in so perhaps being ahead isn't all good as it seems.
The only rivals who should be in the ultra tier if they return, are Paul and Alain because we know how strong they are, and unlike Gary who's offscreen activity is questionable due to him being having transistioned into a researcher, these two are trainers to the core who know what they want to do, and both of them could probably tear Gary apart regardless of what pokemon he had on him.
So I heard you like barbecued Lucario.
Ash isn't bullied as easily as Maylene was.
If Ash battles Paul again, there are three pokemon that Paul has I want Ash to beat, because as insane and crazy their league fight was, I still feel like Ash never truly beat Paul at full power because he didn't topple the following pokemon.
his Torterra
Magmortar
Honchkrow (and no i do not count the pokeringer, since the objective was to get a ring to a goal post, not knock your opponent out)
Especially when it's a flashback of decent lenght and depth.
I'm hopeful they'll get back to that storyline since they went a good distance with that scene...
Me too, I want Ash to get involved when they find their father because it did irk me that this plot wasn't resolved in SM, or that we never saw the pokepelgo either.
Uh, actually, Korrina ALREADy fought Bea and lost to her quickly (shown in a flashback in PM34)
I actually wouldn't mind seeing Korrina trying to get redemption against Bea though.
seeing the rivals appear is one thing, but i'd also like to see them face each other.
For example, I would love to see Paul beat the crap out of Trip and open his "basic level" mind up through his advanced tactics.