Vegeta, the proud Saiyan Prince, is a character defined by his immense power, unwavering pride, and, perhaps surprisingly, his frequent defeats. The term “jobber,” borrowed from professional wrestling, describes a character whose primary role is to lose in order to make others look stronger. While Vegeta possesses incredible strength, he often finds himself on the losing end of battles, solidifying his status as one of Dragon Ball Z’s most prominent jobbers. This article explores ten instances where Vegeta’s losses highlighted his role as a stepping stone for other characters.
The Saiyan Saga: Humiliated by Earth’s Defenders
Vegeta’s introduction to Dragon Ball Z was marked by arrogance and a desire for conquest. Initially, he toys with the Earth’s heroes, displaying his power. However, his overconfidence led to a humiliating defeat. Despite his strength, he was overpowered by the combined efforts of Goku, Gohan, Krillin, and even Yajirobe. The Saiyan Prince was forced to retreat, battered and bruised, and barely escaped Earth. This loss set the tone for much of his future in the series.
Namek Saga: A Warm-Up for Frieza
On Namek, Vegeta sought the Dragon Balls to wish for immortality, hoping to surpass Frieza. He easily dispatched Dodoria and even managed to overpower Zarbon initially. However, Zarbon’s transformation proved too much for Vegeta. He suffered a brutal defeat, highlighting the power gap between him and Frieza’s top henchmen. Although he eventually returned to defeat Zarbon, this initial defeat showcased his vulnerability and established his role as a stepping stone for the stronger villains in the saga. His subsequent fights with Frieza further solidified his jobber status as he repeatedly failed to even make Frieza break a sweat.
The Android Saga: Outclassed by Android 18
After reaching Super Saiyan form, Vegeta’s arrogance reached new heights. However, his confidence was shattered when he faced Android 18. The android easily overpowered him, demonstrating that Vegeta’s newfound power was no match for the androids created by Dr. Gero. This brutal defeat showed Vegeta’s limitations as the Android saga progressed and his power, once considered top tier, paled in comparison to the new threats. He was unable to contribute in any meaningful way to the defeat of the androids, further solidifying his jobber status.
The Cell Saga: Enabling Perfect Cell’s Ascension
In the Cell Saga, Vegeta’s pride led him to make a catastrophic mistake. He allowed Cell to absorb Android 17, leading to Cell’s transformation into his Semi-Perfect form, all in the name of a challenge. This decision was driven by Vegeta’s arrogance and desire for a strong fight, resulting in a major power increase for Cell. Vegeta, consumed by his pride, was easily defeated by Cell after he reached his perfect form. Ultimately, Vegeta played a crucial role in Cell’s ascension to his perfect state, effectively serving as a stepping stone for the villain’s power-up. Although he did manage a brief attack on Cell after the death of his son Trunks, it was ultimately short lived.
The Buu Saga: A Sacrifice for Goku’s Success
During the Majin Buu saga, Vegeta, consumed by his desire to surpass Goku, succumbed to Babidi’s control and became Majin Vegeta. He was defeated soundly by Majin Buu, his attacks proving ineffective. Despite a valiant sacrifice, Vegeta’s self-destruction failed to defeat Buu, only serving to highlight the villain’s immense power. His sacrifice did allow for the escape of Trunks and Goten and buy time for Goku to achieve Super Saiyan 3. In the final battle against Kid Buu, Vegeta could only watch on the sidelines as Goku fought, fully accepting his role as the inferior fighter.
Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan: A Non-Canonical Beatdown
While not canon, Vegeta’s encounter with Broly in Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan further emphasized his jobber status. Even in his Super Saiyan form, Vegeta’s attacks were ineffective, with his full-strength punch barely registering to Broly. He was knocked out with minimal effort. This non-canonical battle underscores the recurring theme of Vegeta being overwhelmed by overwhelmingly powerful foes.
Bojack Unbound: A Brief Moment of Assistance
In Bojack Unbound, Vegeta makes a dramatic entrance to save Trunks from Bojack’s minions. While this is a notable heroic moment, it is quickly overshadowed by the fact that Vegeta was, once again, unable to defeat the main villain of the movie. Bojack ended up being defeated by Gohan, once again reinforcing Vegeta’s inability to defeat a major threat in the series.
Wrath of the Dragon: A Late Appearance
Vegeta’s role in the movie Wrath of the Dragon was minimal. He appears only in the last ten minutes of the movie. Although he did lend some assistance to Goku in the final fight against Hirudegarn, his appearance ultimately served only as an assist, solidifying his role as a supporting character in this particular narrative.
Kid Buu: Accepting His Role as Second Best
In the final battle against Kid Buu, Vegeta was left unable to fight, forced to watch as Goku battled the powerful villain. This moment marked a turning point for Vegeta. He swallowed his pride and acknowledged that Goku was indeed “the best.” Vegeta’s acceptance of his limitations against Kid Buu solidifies his role as a jobber, but one who finally understands his place in the grand scheme of things.
The Final Two DBZ Films: More of the Same
In the final two Dragon Ball Z films, Vegeta’s treatment did not improve. While he may have had brief moments of strength, they ultimately served to highlight the power of other characters, with Goku or Gohan taking the final win. These films reinforce the idea that Vegeta’s role is consistently that of the second strongest, unable to overcome the main villains of the series on his own.
The Nature of a Jobber
It’s important to note that being a jobber doesn’t necessarily mean a character is weak. Vegeta is one of the strongest characters in Dragon Ball Z, but his primary narrative function often involves losing to make the villains appear more formidable or to highlight the power of Goku or Gohan. Vegeta’s losses, fueled by his pride and arrogance, are crucial to the story’s progression. He is a character that experiences constant growth through his failures, making him one of the most dynamic characters in the Dragon Ball franchise, despite his frequent defeats.
In conclusion, Vegeta’s journey in Dragon Ball Z is filled with both incredible displays of power and humbling losses. He is a character whose pride often leads to his downfall, and his frequent defeats are crucial in highlighting the power of the antagonists. While Vegeta might be considered one of Dragon Ball Z’s biggest jobbers, his character arc, driven by his failures and his relentless pursuit of strength, is one of the most compelling in the entire series.
