Hyperbole. Luffy was pushed away, I wouldn't call that a defeat.
It is when the guy who stabbed you did it. I really don't see you're perspective here.
A man stabs you, then "pushes you" (anywhere, in this example let's assume it isn't on the other side of the island), and leaves because he can't see your injured body is still alive. That seems like a win for the stabber, given it's the kind that conveniently lets the hero live to fight again, but imagine you in the same situation. Would you feel good about getting stabbed and left for dead?
And your RPG opponent example bugs me too. I know what you're talking about, and it's wrong for most games. When going level to level, every new enemy isn't as strong as the boss of the last level. Lucci was the strongest fighter in Impel Down. With that logic there's no good reason the 2nd in command of a future arc (though considering it a "next level" is wrong too, since Impel Down is held in a similar regard to Enies Lobby) is stronger then the leader of the last one.
Okay, I might have taken the example too literally, but it still doesn't work. Besides, the main reason people want Hannybal to be stronger then Lucci (as it seems you're one of the people implying this) is because they like him better, and I can see why. He's got a cool status as 2n in command of Impel Down. His design is neat, and he's a consistently entertaining. Meanwhile, Lucci as I understand isn't a popular character, though I'm a little dissappointed in that. What was great about Lucci was his the subtle details given to us each panel. He didn't speak that much, but things like the way he posed when fighting said a lot about the kind of guy he is. But anyway, there's no reason that's a bad thing, liking Hannybal more and wanting more for him, but I wish some people would be more honest about it instead of pointing out ways that Hannybal wins and Lucci fails.