@Rean:
The more this portion of the arc proceeds, the more I think the "raid is failing" theories aren't gonna happen. Luffy himself might get defeated again, but Kaido and BM's plan is almost destined to fail and Wano will get liberated.
Almost every move Oda has made since the Kanjuro betrayal has been about re-balancing the fight to give the Strawhat alliance a better shot:
- Marco removed the majority of Big Mom's forces out of Wano for the foreseeable future, conveniently only leaving Perospero for Carrot to take her revenge, Marco and Izo also function as a reinforcement for the Strawhat alliance.
- Perospero is also conveniently set-up as the initial cause of discord between the Kaido/BM duo.
- Oda has also conveniently not only set-up Kid to arrive with the Strawhat alliance, but Kaido and BM's proclamation that they will get One Piece will ensure that he continues working with them for the rest of the arc.
- The Alliance itself is already crumbling even before Perospero's arrival, with the symbol of Wano's current oppressive "stability" having just been destroyed for good.
- The Flying Six have already been given a power ceiling (I'd say each member is roughly at the typical Supernova level) in less than a volume.
- In Yamato, the Strawhat alliance have already found a strong inside person that is not only willing to help, but also armed with detailed info on what they want to achieve.
Well what I could see happening is Orchi now that Kaido is no longer backing him, calls in CP0, and tells them if the help out? He will then have Wano join the WG. I think the WG would jump at this chance, and they will send in Kizaru and the New Weapons.
So maybe how Wano gets liberated of Kaido and BM, is the WG actually taking over Wano? Because the Weapons are actually that beastly.
Or my long original idea that's always shot down, is that there will be time shanangains. I know it was said that the Time DF can't go backwards, but we're just taking that as a true statement, maybe it is? But what if it isn't? But going backwards has some great price.
Because with how strong Oda made Kaido look when he one shot Luffy, even with his training, I cannot see Luffy combined with everyone being able to defeat Kaido, let alone Kaido and BM. I agree that ultimately Luffy and crew have to come out on top, but there has to be something else that gives them a legitimate edge other than nurffing Kaido.