So who was the SECRET Alolan Champion?!

[@jark06]

I've always thought that Kahili would take the mantle of Champion if there was to be a SM 2. Given she is strong enough to be elite four, and also is confirmed to be an Island Challenge Champion I'd say it's likely. Also it's worth noting that Kukui and Molayne are island champions, so the Hiker could have been talking about them or maybe even the Masked Royale, he seems like he would have enough spectacle to be unlike the other champions of the world, although he has NOTHING to do with the people I mentioned before.

[@borjankosarac3645]

Although, she had the least pre-endgame presence of the Alola E4; a sequel would need to do what B2W2 did for Iris in giving Kahili a bigger story presence to make the reveal more impactful… Heck, besides Leon whose celebrity status made him outright stated as such (hence why I and others thought he might be the twist villain instead of, or in addition to Rose), the Champion is never given to us until the endgame. Which isn’t a bad formula per se, nor does it need be adhered to; nobody says an E4 can’t again rise to Champ rank like Lance. Heck, I rather wish that instead of both B2W2 both having Iris, we had B2 be where she became Gym Leader later (as Drayden still was in “Black”), while since in “White” she was GL there she does in W2 hand it back to Drayden… I dunno, it just seemed a bit of a waste given the other differences and all.

[@westbdabest]

I don’t understand, who could be so crazy to imply that the masked royale resembles someone else? There’s no way…

[@fruit3193]

I agree that before the League was made, anybody who completed the entire Island Challenge was probably considered a champion, similar to how in SV there are multiple champions. It's possible that in this case, the backpacker was referring to either the strongest current champion or the most recent one. Could be Kahili, could be Kukui, I honestly don't know.

[@borjankosarac3645]

Although, she had the least pre-endgame presence of the Alola E4; a sequel would need to do what B2W2 did for Iris in giving Kahili a bigger story presence to make the reveal more impactful… Heck, besides Leon whose celebrity status made him outright stated as such (hence why I and others thought he might be the twist villain instead of, or in addition to Rose), the Champion is never given to us until the endgame. Which isn’t a bad formula per se, nor does it need be adhered to; nobody says an E4 can’t again rise to Champ rank like Lance. Heck, I rather wish that instead of both B2W2 both having Iris, we had B2 be where she became Gym Leader later (as Drayden still was in “Black”), while since in “White” she was GL there she does in W2 hand it back to Drayden… I dunno, it just seemed a bit of a waste given the other differences and all.

[@sirslurmusic]

One of many reasons I love the Alola region so much - all of the rich lore connections to other regions. I think every region from gens 1 thru 6 is connected to it in some way

[@EliteTrainerKenway]

This may be a cop-out, but I wonder if Alola used to have a system where each island had its own champion. Then, after learning about the Indigo League from Samuel Oak, Samson recommends to Kikui that Alola should have a single regional champion. Its entirely possible that the reason Red and Blue go to Alola is to see who becomes the first regional champion.

[@HolyCow0273]

That would probably explain the kahunas and they are already champions of the island already.

[@danteswildlife4411]

If you look at the dialogue from Hassel’s art class side quest in SV you can actually figure out that Ryuki is from the Paldea Region (or whatever region Hassel is from). He was suppose to become the next head of Hassel’s family, but ran away to pursuit his love of music.

[@MissionMart54]

I thought the boy who ran away to pursue music was Hassel and the implication was that it fell through for him and he became a teacher instead, considering the whole point of that side story was the clan trying to get Hassel back to become the head of the clan

[@danteswildlife4411]

@@MissionMart54 then maybe Hassel is Ryuki seeing that the events of Sun and Moon took place years prior.

[@gustavju4686]

Hassel is speculated to be from Johto, with the clan being Lance's clan.

[@babypichu2689]

Or maybe it was foreshadowing that YOU (the player) was the first champion. Which is why he says the champion is “something else” since we would become the first champion of Alola

[@BirdKeeperToby]

This Pokemon theory is really formed about the confusion thats been ciculating since the games came out. Does Alola hjave a champion already? Who was the hiker tlaking about?

[@chimuoma390]

Koh/Sayo Is The Tamer Legend Of Digimon World Dawn/Dusk!Their Apollomon/Dianamon Would Solo Solgaleo/Lunala!Thoughts,Toby?!

[@TheTTopaz]

How crazy is it to suggest that they are referring to our own character in S/M?

[@Emotad]

Let’s not forget that Ash is somewhat game canon because of Battle Bond Greninja originally being called Ash-Greninja. Not sure that’s enough to suggest he’s the champion of Alola in game… but worth mentioning I feel 👍🏼

[@nickdentoom1173]

Yeah, the hiker talked about Kahili... However... i have the personal headcanon, that in order to become a Kahuna, you need to have completed the Island Trial Challenge as well.

[@syaefullrizcky]

Kahuna is choosen by the Tapu just like Hapu no needed to complete island challenge

[@robiu013]

personally i think people are overthinking this. what the character was meant to foreshadow is that in the following game the player character is to become champion. the whole character is just a teaser for the player, saying their champion is "something else" is simply meaning to say "yeah, we will be doing something unconvential with the champion, don't you wanna find out what?" ...it's not meant to be all that consistent with some lore, it's just an easter egg.

[@Nagatem]

What secret there is no secret the games, have no definitive timeline until game freak actually put it out. Aside from the fact that a version of kanto happens before Sun and moon/ultra, sun and moon. This line was just a nice thing to realize later after playing sun and moon, and realizing your main character is that champion they really are something else not an NPC the main player is truly number 1 in alola.

[@morrigankasa570]

If the Anime and thus Ash are canon. Then remember Ash became the "Orange Islands" Champion back before Johto & Hoenn and all those afterwards.

[@Ultradragon16]

This is completely unrelated to the Alola Champion thing, but I have a small headcanon that Ryuki might be Hassel or at least related to him. Both use Dragon types and Hassel says something about running away and "trying to make a living with music" might make sense if he tried to disguise himself to do that. Don't know how well the timelines line up because Ryuki looks like he's maybe in his 20s while Hassel looks much older

[@M_Alexander]

I do love that the very first trainer you meet in Alola can challenge you as champion

[@allhailme8457]

I love the fact that you have come up with an answer to the mysterious Alolan Champion.

[@0OB08O]

I never noticed that there were so many similarities between the Orange Archipelago and Alola. Maybe that's why they chose Alola to finally let Ash win another league. And don't tell me Orange League is not official and has no value since it's totally different from from a formal league system because the anime never had a league with the same structure as the games, even when SwSh brought the anime format to the games, they changed the anime format. And even champions in the core series are not always very popular because there are situations where NPCs don't know who the current champion is.

[@Levi_Heicho]

I’d personally say, Kukui is but what do you all think?

[@Rickardo_Astley]

I myself think it’s the masked royal seems quite strong I must say maybe champion material considering in the anime they were going to have ash fight him until kukui showed up still don’t know why couldn’t find the episode before the battle This is a joke btw before I start a war in the replies

[@trunks38109]

The mask royal is the most famous person in Alola. Also even though they didn’t have a league they did have a battle royale.

[@jark06]

@@Rickardo_Astley it's not confirmed the Masked Royale is an island challenge champion though unfortunately

[@PansyPops]

@@Rickardo_AstleyI still don’t know why the Masked Royal didn’t show up to the battle. What a wuss, it’s embarrassing he needed to ask Kukui to battle in his stead.

[@LoreDanka87]

It' either Kukui or... get this THE EJECTED KAHUNA OF ULA'ULA ISLAND! There is a forgotten character whom we never see, but is referenced sometimes jn dialogue. That is the previous Ula'Ula Kahuna, the one that was "stricken down" alongside his followers by a "tapu". This man also used to be Master of none other but Plumeria and Guzma. Both were part of that group, Plumeria even received her Z-crystal by that guy. The information on the personality of this character is conflicting as Ula'Ula is has a lot of places of worship or of spiritual value, yet it's riddled with sin: from the MegaMarkt built in a holy place and promptly destroyed by Tapu Bulu, the Tapu village that used to have a great part of religious practices, but its residents have become selfish and greedy, for what the whole place was also destroyed, part of the island is flooded and, of course, there is Po Town, a base of Team Skull. Not a good picture of that kahuna. Yet in USUM it is said that that kahuna told Plumeria never to piss off Pokemon which she actually never does during the game. So was he a bad guy, was he a good guy? Did he become unsatisfied many years ago with just conquering the Island Challenge ans even his own kahuna status, or did his achievements in abroad made him too prideful? Truly a mysterious character

[@WishGranted130]

As a former resident of Vermilion/Veridian city, thank you for visiting the place I once called home. It's nice to see it all again through the eyes of the creators around the world.

[@WhiteRaven696]

If we had a traditional League in Alola, the Gym Leaders would be the seven trial Captains plus Molayne (the only confirmed retired Captain), the Elite Four would be the Island Kahunas, which leaves the Elite Four member Kahili to step up to be the Champion. 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@aaronw-a1691]

Not sure who the hiker is referring to but alola has had multiple island challenge champions. Kahili is mentioned in the games don’t remember if the same is said in the manga. Kukui and Molayne completed the island challenge and became champions (I believe this was stated in both the manga and games).

[@mikepope5570]

thought that there might be a minor theory in the teal mask. in the paradise barrens, you can find alot of 4 particular items; rare bones, awakening, burn heal and pokeball/greatball. what i think happened was that younger, less experienced trainer have gone there and died over the years hence the very early pokeballs. they took burn heals to try and stop any injures from volcanic activity and awakenings cause they heard tales of people who seemed to fall alseep very quickly, not realizing that they had died from toxic gases. riding around i kept finding so so many of the same 4 items so they had to have put them there for a reason

[@TheSpektrum1989]

yes! Orange Islands! it was such an interesting move for the anime to have a region that was non-traditional and Ash got to be their champ, so that is pretty cool to think of Alola as a retcon of that stuff.

[@Justic_]

I mean, the real answer probably is that Alola wasn't quite fleshed out by the time this reference was written, considering most things point to them initially planning for a Pokemon Z around the time X and Y came out. Obviously, that didn't pan out, but it still would be 3 more years until Sun and Moon were to release, they were probably at the very early stages of planning, and so the Alola-region not having a traditional Pokemon League yet probably wasn't even established yet. But for an in-universe explanation, the hiker equating the island trial champion to the champions of other regions makes sense, although I'd personally assume him to be talking about Kukui, not Kahili, since we know Kukui to have been an accomplished trainer in the past, even though back when he visited Kanto, probably in his younger years, he lost against Lance (although considering Red and Blues age in SM, I guess it's unclear if Lance was already the champion at this point or just an E4, that could make a massive difference for how strong Kukui was already back then)

[@RandomThumbVids]

8:40 Ryuki does Leon's "Champion Time" pose when you fight him, so it's assumed he's Galarian

[@ertemkiziltan1971]

I think this references to the original plan for sun and moon. It has been confirmed in concept art/data minig that there where originally gyms like in every other region.

[@Zeturic]

I think this was just a retcon. We know that the Trials system didn't materialize until late in development, so presumably at one point Alola was intended to have a more traditional Pokémon League. While I do think the idea of referring to any person who completed the Island Trial as a Champion is interesting, I don't think that quite lines up with what the Hiker says. It's not like Kahili is the only person to complete the Island Challenge, so referring to her as "our Champion" as though she has higher status that the rest doesn't quite make sense. Plus, she had been traveling and thus wouldn't even be in the Alola region at the time he said that, so she wouldn't really have any impact on the adventure of anyone undertaking the Island Challenge at the time he said that. It'd make more sense if the line was "our Champions are something else".

[@Mcflyeon]

I've always wondered about that another region quote back then but I never would have thought that it would be contradicted with the fact that there was actually no champion hindsight

[@emperorcubone]

This is a fascinating point! At the very least Gamefreak was praising our skills three years before Sun and Moon ever came out, knowing how great we'd be!

[@WhiteRaven696]

I still wanna know what region has the backwards waterfalls teased in Kalos.

[@leftygurl]

i cant believe the answer was staring at us in the face the whole time, we’ve been wondering about who it could be and the weird continuity it could be setting up for us, but we just needed to give one bit of dialogue another look for it to all make sense.

[@AidanRatnage]

6:45 didn't he become Champion of the Orange Islands way before this?

[@Teal_Blastoise]

Yes, he did. A lot of people tend to forget this.

[@greggceballos2611]

Champion can be a loose word. It can be a defender that upholds the region, it can be someone who upholds a certain virtue, it can be someone who won something and is not limited to battles i.e. Pokemon Contests, Golf tournements

[@nightking8764]

Ryuki isn't actually the Kantoean gym leader though, not does he give out the badge. He's just a trainer who likes to hang out there.

[@rustedbubble4756]

I'm pretty sure that before kukui built the Pokemon league the island challenge was more like the paldea Pokemon league but is now more like the Pokemon leagues of the rest of world

[@yangwenlifangirl]

I think that Leon is originally part of Sun and moon cast and the champion but they change it. It is also reveal that Gen 7 supposedly has gyms. They create a new character which is Kukui to replace Leon and move his character to Gen 9. Lol it reminds me on how on Diamond and Pearl Beta where Cyrus acts out of character and I speculate he originally meant to be like N but they change it and move that N's characteristics to Gen 5.

[@gustavju4686]

*Gen 8. But, yeah, I think you're right. Leon is has hyped up as the Backpacker made out the Alolan champion to be. And if not Leon, it's probably Ryuki.

[@thelastlahofe]

For some reason I remember dialogue that said a Trial Champion was just anyone who completed an Island challenge

[@daniellelondon439]

I thought that Ryuki was related to Hassel in the Paldea region, who himself is probably from blackthorn city as he is a descendant of the dragon clan.

[@Riftrender]

I am still angry at a lack of a regional Onix

[@Teal_Blastoise]

A regional Spinarak and Ariados would be cool, because it's based on a spider from Hawaii! And I agree with you

[@lilhumbo3644]

If it is ash I think it's him from the movies that tell a different story from the anime I think that's the ash that could be canon to the games

[@fangslore9988]

in Alola there were many champions however there was never an official pokemon league. so they became champions other ways through the trials but in then the trials were given a League so the player in sun and moon became the first pokemon legue champion but not the first alola champion

[@k2basior]

Did you hear the theory of Kahili being Winona and Wallace daughter?

[@pkmntrainermark8881]

Surge doesn't sign the badge. The autograph is separate. And it's pretty visibly not a badge in the player's room.

[@BirdKeeperToby]

It is. It’s a badge in a case

[@pkmntrainermark8881]

@BirdKeeperToby I dunno, looks like a signed sheet of paper in a case to me. Actually, looking closely, I do see the badge back there. But it looks really big for a Gym Badge. It might just be stationery with the design of the Thunder Badge on it.

[@miguellopezc.7753]

I think Kukui but also Red? He does show up ! What if he won and wanted to keep going with journey and not stay behind to be a champion, that’s they needed a new official one

[@miguellopezc.7753]

He does have a charizard

[@already-taken]

I mean, that's definitely a good lore reason. I honestly feel more like the developers had decided early that you are going to be the first proper champion and were like "our champion is real something!" *wink**wink* *nudge**nidge*

[@Flipdew]

So you're not gonna mention how Ash is mentioned in the OT of Ash Greninja?

[@spencerharrisondescales519]

The ineradicable Rattata and Raticate, always forgotten....😢😢😢

[@ZombieBarioth]

Kukui was implied to be have a rivalry with Guzma, who at least initially couldn't understand how he remained so optimistic. That could just be Guzma projecting his own insecurities but he did also know the old Kukui, likely before he became the Masked Royal. Kukui doesn't seem to like battling publicly either, preferring to do so as his alter ego. Perhaps the book was written by a younger, disgraced Kukui who left Alola with his wounded pride to get stronger, but as he got older he came to terms with it, settles down, and gets married.

[@zacharydechant1303]

It’s you! You were the champion all along.

[@madnessarcade7447]

They were probably talking about the professor

[@5Porygon]

Thank you so much for all videos you made. You are one of my absolutely best youtubers ever. :) Jsi borec. Mám moc rád tvoji tvorbu. Zdraví Nogy.

[@lawznwdsc]

Cool theory Toby, I've always thought while the anime is not canon anime only characters could exist in the games world, we just haven't seen them.

[@neonclouds9295]

Great theory video Toby. However, that youngster boy could be old enough to be a champion considering and scarlet and violet one of the elite four is around the same age

[@Greenne0]

Had to double take that thumbnail for a minute haha-

[@MisterNiceGuy2001]

Can we get an updated video of where Paldea and it’s DLC’s are located in the Pokemon map?

[@andysavs1838]

Nice video! Haven't finished it but sun is my favorite game si this should be good!

[@Undrave]

I think the tradition was for those who took the Island Trials to defeat each other in battles?

[@PixelPikmin]

This is the quickest I’ve ever clicked on a video. Anyways keep up the good work. I have a feeling this is gonna be a good theory.

[@BirdKeeperToby]

aw thank you, this actually one where it's a litlte bit of a non theroy because the answer is actually IN the game haha

[@PixelPikmin]

@BirdKeeperToby Wow I didn’t expect you to respond! You’re right on the money though, considering the wording made me think we were the first champion. I think the first champion may be Kahili kind of doing a reverse of Lance, where she went from champion to elite 4. Anyways thank you for the good content throughout the years. I’ve been watching since I was a little kid.

[@newski7284]

Pokemon Masters has actually referenced how strong Kahili is and said she could be a champion if she decided to try. I think this just further proves this theory could possibly be correct.

[@dylanthomas385]

Do if I had a Pokémon reign

[@rowanmichaels]

Is it likely that Orre's battle towers are a similar result of the "east" aka the Pokemon Nation aka Japan's influence on western North America, as they did on Alola. Perhaps in the Pokemon World, "Japan" is the largest superpower, with the 'W. European block' of Galar, Kalos, and Paldea, and then Unova on the North American east coast. It would explain the Pokemon initially found in Orre, also given that wild Pokemon are so rare there. Orre might be very new, like under 200 years.

[@bastionsea2829]

I'm still confused at how everyone assumes he's talking about the champion of Alola. He's a backpacker, a traveller, it's easily possible that he traveled to Alola and got the statue, but that doesn't indicate that he's talking about the champion from there

[@logan3026]

Imagine the backpacker wasn’t even talking abt alola

[@lockdownhamza]

I don’t know.

[@JamiePokemonTrainer]

no one because Alola didn't had a champion

[@e.j.crimson3121]

What if sun and moon were going at the same time as x and y.

[@ROLO31]

guzma challenges you for champion title defense too

[@ashmander3465]

Huh neat

[@cogema97]

Could the hicker be referring to the player character? Would be a cool twist that you were that champion

[@LewisRJHope]

No because that hiker interaction occurs before the S&M games.

[@cogema97]

@@LewisRJHope they could be set after them? Just cause it was released before doesn't mean that's necessarily the timeline

[@LewisRJHope]

No cuz characters from previous games appear in sun and moon but older.@@cogema97

[@robiu013]

Ryuki isn't champion level. he isn't even elite four level. the games explicitly made him on pair with the trial captains.

[@nrykstewart6073]

Idk

[@DarkLordTalon]

Doesn't Kukui's line specifically mention becoming the First official champion of the Alola region though? Which not just implies but proves a difference with it all? Part of my brain remembers him saying that he himself would take the mantle of Alola's first champion too justifying him being your first opponent in a brand new established E4 not some "we just wanna be recognized too" E4.

[@GumCow]

Pretty sure XY takes place after sun and moon, so the champion is the protagonist

[@timwoods2852]

Too bad they just seemingly poop her into the league at the end, and everybody just kinda writes her off as a slot filler. They really should have given her a bigger/better presence in the game if your conclusion is correct.

[@tomhans9207]

No

[@patonosequecosa]

W?

[@oler777]

Why do people who talk about anime always have to get this dollar store totally not Mark versions of them talking when you’re literally on camera at the start of the video 1:26

[@garretterickson262]

Toby please do one last big my teams video before you go away

[@BirdKeeperToby]

I’ll have a think about it for sure. I just haven’t been playing much but I’ll have a think ^_^

[@AZ-697]

Toby. Kahili is only one person. The correct English is to refer to HER by the singular SHE, not the plural THEY. CRINGE.

[@thejongshow8821]

Kahili is wifey

[@kstanni87]

Why are you calling Kahili as when you said he was there the whole time. Kahili is a lady, not a man.

[@Primordial_Radiance]

Oh nice! You're still making content! I really hope you still make other content when you stop making pokemon content. You make very good content and have a great personality. It would be wonderful to see what else you can make.