The perfect way to end Daniel and Johnny’s Cobra Kai stories was teased back in season 1 thanks to a Rocky III reference. Cobra Kai season 6 will be the show’s final, meaning it might be the conclusion to the story that began in 1984’s The Karate Kid. While Ralph Macchio will reprise his role as Daniel LaRusso in the new Karate Kid movie, it is unclear whether the new project will tie directly into Cobra Kai. Therefore, season 6 must deliver a satisfying ending to Daniel and Johnny’s journeys as rivals and friends.
The Rocky and Karate Kid franchises have a shared history that goes back to the original films. John G. Avildse directed both Rocky and The Karate Kid, not to mention how “You’re the Best” was supposed to have been used in Rocky III before it was replaced with “Eye of the Tiger.” As such, it was no surprise to have Rocky references in Cobra Kai, which also included a lot of callbacks to other movies and songs from the 1980s. For example, in season 3, Miguel used Rocky III as an example of why Johnny and Daniel should work together.
Before Cobra Kai ends, there should be a Rocky III-style fight between Daniel and Johnny. At the end of Rocky III, after helping Balboa beat Clubber Lang, Apollo gets to ask something in return – a secret fight against Rocky to finally settle who was the better fighter. Apollo had won their first fight in Rocky, whereas Balboa won the rematch in RockyII. However, just as the fight is about to start, the credits roll and the movie never reveals who won the third fight. The winner of Apollo and Rocky’s third match would only be disclosed decades later.
Cobra Kai once referenced Apollo and Rocky’s secret fight in season 1, when Daniel and Johnny briefly put their differences aside and bonded for a day. Johnny even suggested they would have a friendly match inspired by Rocky III. Unfortunately, they did not remain on good terms for too long – as soon as they entered LaRusso’s house, Johnny found out Robby was training with Daniel. What should have been a moment for the high school rivals to reconnect turned into family drama, and the proposed match never happened. Daniel and Johnny would only have a proper match in season 4.
After multiple misunderstandings and fights over trivial things, Johnny and Daniel have finally overcome their rivalry. Cobra Kai season 5 wrapped up some of the show’s oldest storylines, including the decades-old rivalry between Daniel and Johnny. Not only are the original Karate Kid rivals now friends, but they are also working together on their combined dojo. Johnny, Daniel, and Chozen will train all their students under the same dojo ahead of the Sekai Taikai, which feels like a natural conclusion to the show. With just one season left, there shouldn’t be any more drama between Daniel and Johnny.
Cobra Kai season 4 already did the “Eagle Fang and Miyagi-Do cannot coexist” storyline, suggesting things will now work out for this new combined dojo. That said, even though Johnny and Daniel are now on the same side, there could still be one more fight between them before the show ends. The entire Karate Kid universe was built on the rivalry between LaRusso and Lawrence, a dynamic that became even better in Cobra Kai. A friendly match in the style of what was done in Rocky III would be the best way to do it.
There have been three fights between Daniel and Johnny in Cobra Kai, none of which had a clear winning. Of that total, only one was a proper karate fight with judges and rules – the one in season 4 to settle their differences and decide the future of their dojo. Cobra Kai cleverly avoided giving either Daniel or Johnny the victory, which should happen again if there is another fight in season 6. Victories in the Karate Kid universe are usually associated with character development, but there is nothing Daniel or Johnny could learn from beating the other at this point.
What happened in the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament no longer defines Johnny Lawrence’s life. Additionally, Ali’s cameo in Cobra Kai season 3 brought closure to the complicated love triangle that set the events of The Karate Kid in motion. Daniel and Johnny now respect each other as fighters and teachers, further indicating that Cobra Kai does not need to end with a high-stakes fight between them. That said, ending the show on a friendly match inspired by a 1980s classic in which the winner is never revealed would work perfectly.
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