In the world of One Punch Man, Saitama is synonymous with pure, absolute power. He can defeat any opponent with a single punch. However, outside of combat, the Caped Baldy sometimes experiences hilarious and crushing defeats that make fans both laugh and sympathize.
So, what are some of the most amusing moments where Saitama tasted defeat?
1. Crushing Loss in Rock-Paper-Scissors Against Bang
One of the funniest moments showing Saitama’s helpless side is when he plays rock-paper-scissors with the S-Class hero Bang (Silver Fang).
When Bang invites Saitama and Genos to enjoy premium beef, they must pass tests including a card game and rock-paper-scissors. What seems like a simple game turns into a nightmare for Saitama.
Saitama loses to Bang repeatedly and even gets tapped on the head with a toy hammer. He only manages to win once after many bitter defeats. This proves that despite his incredible speed and reflexes in battle, Saitama lacks luck and prediction skills in this random game.
2. Crushing Defeat to King in Video Games
King is the weakest civilian among the S-Class heroes but becomes one of Saitama’s toughest rivals in one area: video games.
This has been proven many times when they play fighting games at Saitama’s apartment. Despite having lightning-fast hand speed capable of executing complex combos, Saitama repeatedly loses to King.
Even worse, King often lets Saitama almost win by holding back until the health bar is nearly empty, then pulls off a spectacular comeback to claim victory. King truly earns the title “King of Gamers” in the eyes of the world’s strongest hero.
3. Instant Defeat by King in an Online VR Tournament
Saitama’s bad luck in gaming continues when he enters a virtual reality (VR) tournament called Wild Animals to win prize money.
Confident that VR’s physical demands would favor him, Saitama chooses a muscular Gorilla character to face off against a small Koala character.
Unfortunately, Saitama is defeated within seconds during the qualifiers. The most embarrassing part is when he discovers the Koala character that beat him belongs to King! This defeat stings the most as it involves both skill and financial loss.
4. Disqualified at the Super Fight Finals
This moment happens during the Super Fight martial arts tournament finals, where Saitama faces Suiryu. As usual, Saitama remains unharmed by Suiryu’s attacks, focusing more on his wig that hides his identity.
When Suiryu starts insulting the heroes’ honor, Saitama lets his wig fall and delivers a powerful punch that immediately ends the match.
Unfortunately, the judges instantly disqualify Saitama for violating dress code rules by wearing a wig. This rule was enforced because Garou previously disguised himself as Wolfman to cause trouble. Saitama’s disqualification is unfair, and Suiryu is declared the champion.
5. Losing to Genos in an Udon Eating Contest
Although Genos is far weaker than Saitama in combat, there was a time when the disciple outperformed his master: in an udon eating contest.
Saitama challenges Genos to an udon eating competition for a cash prize. In the end, Saitama fails to finish his portion, while Genos easily devours a huge bucket of udon.
Genos’s secret is technical: thanks to his cyborg body, he can burn the food as soon as it enters his system. A victory powered by technology and… legal cheating.