After Johnny vs. Barnes, This Is The Karate Kid Legacy Fight I Need To See Next In Cobra Kai

Summary Mike Barnes vs. Terry Silver is the Karate Kid legacy fight fans are eagerly waiting for in Cobra Kai season 6.

The dynamic between old villains like Barnes and Silver adds new depth and excitement to Cobra Kai's storytelling.

The potential matchup promises a high-stakes showdown between two skilled fighters, with Barnes likely to come out on top.

Warning: Spoilers for Cobra Kai season 6 part 1

After Cobra Kai season 6 part 1, Mike Barnes vs. Terry Silver stands out as the Karate Kid legacy fight I need to see more than any other. To me, one of Cobra Kai's best decisions was to bring in other Karate Kid villains aside from Johnny, allowing new conflicts and rivalries between old favorites to unfold. Taking this direction has allowed us to see fights between characters who never met or were previously on the same side in The Karate Kid movies.

To this end, Cobra Kai has treated us to some exciting new matchups over the years, with Daniel vs. Terry Silver, Mike Barnes vs. Chozen, and Chozen vs. Silver being among the best. I was glad to see Cobra Kai season 6 continue this approach by pitting Johnny Lawrence against Mike Barnes. And with there being ten episodes left in Cobra Kai's final season, I'll be surprised if at least one more of these doesn't happen. As for what it will entail, I'm hoping it will be a direct follow-up to what happened between Johnny and the "Bad Boy of Karate."

Why Mike Barnes vs. Terry Silver Needs To Happen In Cobra Kai Season 6

Terry Silver Ruined Mike Barnes' Life

Image via Netflix

After Cobra Kai season 5's ending, I interpreted Mike Barnes' role in the big fight to be the show's resolution to his issues with Terry Silver. I wasn't sure if Silver would come back, or if Barnes would, for that matter. But I'm convinced both should, and that a fight between them is where Cobra Kai needs to take Mike Barnes' story if it continues any further. Season 6 used Silver burning down Barnes' furniture store to revive the character's darker impulses, and proved that it's behind his current emotional state, which is great storytelling potential season 6 can work with.

While Mike Barnes did have a hand in Terry Silver's defeat, his contribution was admittedly small, considering Barnes was unconscious for most of the fight and never got to fight Silver personally.

When Cobra Kai originally brought back Mike Barnes, the qualities that made him a villain in The Karate Kid Part III were largely absent. This wasn't necessarily a problem, as his change in attitude demonstrated his growth as a character over a 30-year period. But Silver's actions marked a massive setback for him, presenting an interesting dimension to Mike Barnes that's not been on display since the 1980s. Since Terry Silver was the catalyst for all this, watching Mike Barnes work out his frustrations against Silver is exactly what I want to see next for his character.

Why Mike Barnes Would Probably Beat Terry Silver

Mike Barnes Woudn't Have Lost So Badly To Daniel

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As two of the best fighters in The Karate Kid franchise, Barnes and Silver have what it takes to deliver one of the season's greatest fight scenes. Both are extremely skilled, and the intensity Sean Kanan's Barnes would inevitably bring to the confrontation would only complement that. What's more, I'm confident it'll have a satisfying ending, as I expect Mike Barnes to win and in doing so, perhaps find a way to move on with his life and get back to where he was before Daniel and Silver brought karate back into his life.

Of course, Terry Silver has the potential to make this one interesting. He gave Chozen a tough fight, and has had other impressive moments. But Mike Barnes, in my opinion, is an even better fighter. After all, his reputation as a former national champion in karate speaks for itself. He's not unbeatable, of course, but given his toughness, natural talent, and ferocity, I can't imagine a scenario where Mike Barnes loses a one-on-one-fight as decisively as Terry Silver did when he was beaten by Daniel LaRusso in the Cobra Kai season 5 finale.

How A Mike Barnes vs. Terry Silver Fight Could Happen

If Terry Silver Gets His Charges Dropped, He Could Return To Cause Trouble

Image via Netflix

By emphasizing that the impact Terry Silver had on Mike Barnes still lingers in Cobra Kai season 6 part 1, the show has already taken one step toward a potential fight between the two Karate Kid Part III villains. However, its setup for such a fight never goes beyond that. That could change, though, if Silver becomes a threat again.

Daniel downplayed that possibility to Amanda in the Cobra Kai season 6 premiere, pointing out that Silver has no one to fight for him. But this claim seems to overlook the fact that Silver paid Barnes to fight for him in the past. There's no reason why Silver couldn't repeat this strategy with someone else. That could trigger a fight with Mike Barnes, considering that the latter is clearly still in touch with Daniel and Johnny's dojo. If the two need help with Silver, I'm sure Mike Barnes won't decline an opportunity for revenge.