Kaiba's Ruthless Burn Leaves Yu-Gi-Oh's Joey in Shambles - Unforgettable Duel!

The tumultuous relationship between Kaiba and Joey in the original Yu-Gi-Oh! anime is well-known among fans. However, fans may be shocked by the malicious nature of Seto's most savage insult. Surprisingly, this insult did not originate in the original series but was actually introduced in the sequel, Yu-Gi-Oh! GX. Nevertheless, this only serves to amplify the insult's significance and impact.

Despite being a direct continuation of the original series, Yu-Gi-Oh! GX possesses its own unique identity. However, it maintains various connections to its predecessor, with most of the characters from the original show implying their continued existence as major figures in the world of GX. Of particular importance is Kaiba, who serves as the president of Kaibacorp, the company that owns the school where much of GX unfolds. Consequently, even in instances where Kaiba does not directly appear in the show, his presence is strongly felt. This is particularly evident in episode 13, where his exceptional insult towards Joey takes place.

Kaiba Named a Monkey After Joey in Yu-Gi-Oh! GX

In the episode, a monkey being trained by Kaibacorp to duel escapes from its testing facility and abducts a student from duel academy. This premise may seem ludicrous, but it comes as no surprise for Kaiba, who is so fixated on dueling that he even sends cards into space in an attempt to teach aliens how to duel. The most amusing aspect of this situation is that the monkey's name is Wheeler, which happens to be Joey's last name. While this detail may go unnoticed, it serves as a clever insult towards Joey, as Kaiba essentially mocks him by likening him to a dueling monkey. What adds to the humor is the unlikelihood of Joey ever encountering this monkey or discovering its name, indicating that this jab is solely for Kaiba's satisfaction.

This petty decision showcases Kaiba's cruelty towards Joey in a rather delightful manner. While Joey has experienced his fair share of defeats in duels, he has repeatedly shown himself to be a skilled duelist. Despite this, Kaiba persists in belittling him, suggesting that by the end of the series, his antagonism is driven more by a personal grudge rather than actual merit. The fact that the Wheeler monkey is completely separate from Joey underscores that this grudge is not primarily meant to inflict pain, but rather to feed Kaiba's petty ego. While such behavior might seem pathetically obsessive for a lesser character, it perfectly suits the exaggerated jerk persona of Kaiba and serves as a clever Easter egg for fans.

There were other remarkable moments that Yu-Gi-Oh! GX provided for Kaiba, but this one stands out as the most understated since he doesn't make an actual appearance in the episode. Surprisingly, the clever insult is not included in the original Japanese version of the episode, where the monkey is referred to by a different name. However, fans can appreciate the fact that the English dub of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX managed to bestow Kaiba with such a superb insult, even after his series had concluded.