What If Gohan Finished Super Buu for Good?

What If Gohan Actually Defeated Super Buu? The Ripple Effects on Dragon Ball Legacy

Picture this: Gohan, not Goku, lands the final blow on Super Buu. The Buu Saga was originally meant to crown Gohan as Earth’s new protector, but Akira Toriyama pivoted last-minute. If Gohan had succeeded, Dragon Ball’s future would’ve looked wildly different. Let’s break down the chaos!

Goku Stays Dead (And That’s a BIG Deal)

Goku Stays Dead (And That’s a BIG Deal)
Goku Stays Dead (And That’s a BIG Deal)
Goku Stays Dead (And That’s a BIG Deal)
Goku Stays Dead (And That’s a BIG Deal)

Gohan victory would’ve erased the need to revive Goku. Remember, Goku chose to stay dead after the Cell Saga, believing his presence attracted trouble. Without Super Buu rampage, Old Kai wouldn’t have intervened to bring Goku back.

Consequences:

No “End of Z” Training with Uub: Uub—Kid Buu’s reincarnation—would never exist. Goku’s final scene? Instead of flying off to train Uub, he’d stay home with family.
Vegeta Redemption Arc Stays Intact: Bulma would’ve still wished Vegeta back to life (because let’s face it—she always saves him).

Bye-Bye, Fat Buu—Hello, Boring Martial Arts Tournaments

What If Gohan Actually Defeated Super Buu?

If Gohan killed Super Buu before he absorbed Gotenks and Piccolo, Fat Buu (the friendly pink guy) would’ve died too. No Fat Buu means:

Mr. Satan Loses His “Hero” Status: No Buu friendship = no Dragon Ball Super cameos for Hercule.
No Majin Buu in the Tournament of Power: Say goodbye to Buu’s hilarious antics against Universe 9 fighters.

Who Replaces Buu?
Goku might’ve recruited Master Roshi or Tien for the Tournament of Destroyers. Spoiler: They’d still lose to Hit.

Dragon Ball Super Storyline Gets a Rewrite

Dragon Ball Super Storyline Gets a Rewrite
Dragon Ball Super Storyline Gets a Rewrite
Dragon Ball Super Storyline Gets a Rewrite

1. No Super Saiyan God Gohan
Beerus wakes up early searching for a Super Saiyan God. But with Goku dead, who steps up? Even if Gohan trained nonstop, Goku (training in Otherworld) would still outpace him. The Dragon Team would have to revive Goku to stop Beerus—just like in canon.

2. Future Trunks Saves the Day… Again
Without Fat Buu napping before the Tournament of Power, Goku wouldn’t panic-revive Frieza. Instead, he’d recruit Future Trunks (using the Dragon Balls). Trunks vs. Jiren? Sign us up!

3. Bye-Bye, Frieza Shenanigans
No Frieza revival = no DBS: Broly movie. Goku and Vegeta never meet Broly, and the Granolah Saga ends with Gas’ defeat. The final boss? Cell Max in Super Hero, making Gohan the hero twice.

Dragon Ball DAIMA New Protagonist?

With Goku dead, Daima’s plot to shrink fighters and lure them to the Demon Realm would target Gohan. But let’s be real: Gohan’s too busy being a scholar/dad. The series would likely stay a Goku-centric adventure—just with extra dad jokes.

The Biggest Winner? PAN.

The Biggest Winner? PAN.
The Biggest Winner? PAN.
The Biggest Winner? PAN.
The Biggest Winner? PAN.
The Biggest Winner? PAN.

In this timeline, Goku never meets Uub. Instead, he trains his granddaughter, Pan, to be his successor. Imagine Pan mastering Ultra Instinct as a teen! The “End of Z” would close with Goku grinning at Pan’s potential—not flying off to train a stranger.

Final Takeaway

Gohan defeating Super Buu would’ve simplified Dragon Ball’s future—but robbed us of iconic moments (Vegito’s debut, Frieza’s return). Yet it also highlights Gohan’s wasted potential. Maybe Dragon Ball DAIMA will finally let him shine?

Check Out: Who Deserves to Defeat Black Frieza in Dragon Ball Super?