With Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire ruling the world, thanks to a huge $194 million box office weekend, the MonsterVerse has never been so mighty. As speculation for a third Godzilla-versus-Kong movie is underway, it is time to talk about the best parts of the kaiju-centered universe: the monster battles.
While Kong had a share of bare-knuckle brawls, Godzilla faced numerous foes, with most of them nearly outmatching the fearsome lizard. It only begs the question: if they can beat Godzilla, can they also beat Kong? Here are five of Godzilla’s enemies that can defeat Kong in a battle:
1. King Ghidorah
King Ghidorah is the best Kaiju to start since he is popularly regarded as Godzilla’s nemesis. First appearing in his titular 1964 movie, Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, the alien dragon made a strong impression as the Earth’s next greatest threat after its vicious attack on a civilization on Venus.
While flight and gravity beams are his most common abilities, King Ghidorah can also constrict his enemies with his necks, absorb energy, unleash lightning bolts from its wings, and summon hurricane-like gusts of wind. He can even stop Godzilla’s powerful atomic breath.
In The Three-Headed Monster, his ferocious strength and abilities can only be outmatched by the combined powers of Godzilla, Mothra, and Rodan. On that metric alone, he seems worthy to defeat Kong alone on one jab.
2. Rodan
Arguably the second-best winged Kaiju in movie history, Rodan has an on-and-off rivalry with Godzilla. Whenever he is in a menacing mode towards the radioactive lizard, the Pteranodon kaiju shows his superiority with his aerial dominance and hovering presence.
In Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Rodan’s speed and agility became a disadvantage for Godzilla. His ability to produce powerful supersonic blasts and send volcanic eruptions makes him a serious threat.
Even after his defeat, any kaiju resembling Rodan can be difficult to stop. Take the Warbat in Godzilla vs. Kong, wherein it coiled Kong and nearly knocked the ape down. What more if Rodan can unleash its firepower midflight and surround Kong with fire?
3. Biollante
Now to the deep-cut kaiju in the Godzilla universe. First is the Biollante, a genetically modified plant hybrid kaiju who served as Godzilla’s main foe in his movie, 1989’s Godzilla vs. Biollante. She was the first kaiju to be “plant-based” rather than rooted in animals or robots.
What is more fascinating and disorienting about Biollante is her origins. When the monster was referred to as a “her”, Biollante is the product of Godzilla’s spliced cells placed in a rose where it has the spliced cells of Dr. Genichiro Shiragami’s deceased daughter.
With that human element in Biollante, Kong may find it difficult to defeat the plant-inspired kaiju since he is a sympathetic titan, as he is Skull Island’s protector. But not helping also is her thick vines, radioactive fire, and regeneration.
4. Gigan
Behold the champion of the M Space Hunter Nebula Aliens! Gigan is half-alien, half-cyborg, all kaiju with its hooked claws and a saw on its chest.
First appearing in his titular movie, 1972’s Godzilla vs. Gigan, the cyborg kaiju is sent to Earth, alongside King Ghidorah, to defeat Godzilla. Even in defeat, Gigan was sent to Earth in Godzilla vs. Megalon to aid the Seatopian army in their invasion. Time and time again, he served as a pawn for alien invaders.
Who can blame him? Gigan has all the fight-and-flight abilities that can bring destruction. If ever Kong comes across the kaiju, he would need more than his axe.
5. Godzilla Clone Orga
Orga has the unique distinction in the Godzilla franchise of being the only kaiju capable of swallowing the giant radioactive lizard whole. That is his horrifying way to injure his foe and absorb his energy.
In Godzilla 2000: Millennium, Orga nearly mirrors the appearance and abilities of Godzilla, down to his regeneration and strength. Well, he is a botched clone of the radioactive kaiju. But much like Godzilla, he has potent healing and Hulk-like strength. However, his one advantage over Godzilla is telepathic control over the Millennium UFO.
While his near-identical abilities to Godzilla can be no big deal, Orga engulfing the kaiju can be problematic for Kong, if he ever faces him off. Because at least Godzilla has atomic breath. Kong only has his thumping fists.
