Top 10 Anime Knock Outs That Broke The Internet

“Attack on Titan” (2013-23)

Eren Jaeger’s villain turn in the final season catches many people by surprise, none more so than his besties, Mikasa and Armin. A tense chat between the trio escalates to blows after Eren claims that neither are as “free” as him and that he despises Mikasa (despite her obvious love for him). Armin attempts to give Eren a well-deserved ass kicking, but Eren proves much better in a fight, beating Armin until he can barely stand. Armin’s retort arguably does just as much damage though. While Armin isn’t taken out completely, there’s no arguing that this fight between friends lit up the internet, since it showed us the extent of Eren’s descent.

“Boruto: Naruto Next Generations” (2017-)

Naruto has dreamed of becoming Hokage since he was a kid. But the day it finally happens doesn’t exactly go to plan. His kids Himawari and Boruto are arguing over the former’s doll, which is torn. Naruto’s daughter snaps and attacks her brother with the Byakugan. When Naruto intervenes, he gets hit right in the…“chakra point!” Naruto gets so messed up that he has to miss the ceremony to proclaim him the new Hokage! Despite clearly being a gag moment, Naruto getting knocked out by his daughter still got all the internet’s power scalers debating whether Naruto has been nerfed or whether Himawari is just that stronk.

“JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” (2012-)

Knocking out bad guys in a flurry of punches is a tradition handed down in the Joestar bloodline for generations! Yet few of them have been as satisfying, or talked about, as Jotaro’s beatdown of Steely Dan. The smug cretin’s Stand, the Lovers, lets him hold people hostage by crawling inside their brains. After Steely Dan humiliates Jotaro while holding his grandpa Joseph’s life over him, Jotaro takes swift justice on DIO’s underling once the Lovers is no longer a threat. The ensuing “Ora-ora” barrage is spectacular enough - but Jotaro leaving a receipt is the cherry on top.

“Chainsaw Man” (2022-)

Given how outrageous it can get, “Chainsaw Man” never fails to make headlines. In this early episode, Aki leads new devil hunter Denji into an alley, before beating him up. He hopes to dissuade Denji from the profession if he isn’t serious, having seen too many new devil hunters die. However, Denji proves he is serious - albeit in a decidedly unserious way. He repeatedly kicks Aki between the legs. It may not be honorable in a fight between men, but it is an effective tactic. It also got plenty of guys talking online, if only out of sympathy.

“Dragon Ball Super” (2015-18)

The Tournament of Power broke the internet quite a few times with some absolutely hype moments. But the knockout that got everyone talking was of one of the heroes. Vegeta and Goku are overmatched by Jiren. With Goku down, Vegeta stands alone against the powerful Pride Trooper. Plenty prideful in his own right, Vegeta draws on his own pride (for his family and friends) to fire off one last Final Flash. It may prove unsuccessful, and he’s knocked out of the ring, but Vegeta’s tearful care for his loved ones and his last gift of energy to Goku got “Dragon Ball” fans discussing the Saiyan prince’s character growth.

“Hunter x Hunter” (2011-14)

Gon is tremendously powerful for a kid his age, but even he’s overmatched by the Royal Guard Neferpitou. However, in Gon’s rage over what the Chimera Ant did to Kite, his resolve to use all his Nen to defeat Pitou allows him to unlock a supreme level of power - and bulk up considerably. Seeing Gon kick and punch Pitou around like a rag doll is quite satisfying and incredibly executed. Even after the cat-like ant is dead, Gon still doesn’t let up (and for good reason). There may be an element of tragedy to the final blows, but that didn’t stop the internet from getting hyped over Gon’s god-level Ro-sham-bo.

“My Hero Academia” (2016-)

There are a ton of great final attacks in “My Hero.” But only one of them set the internet ablaze with hype! All Might’s battle against All For One in Kamino Ward sees the number one hero’s power reduced to its barest embers, his weakened body exposed to the world. Yet, with one last burst of energy, All Might goes for a fake out and then hits AFO with one last One For All-powered punch! The impact sends a cyclone whirling into the air, and puts the vile villain down for the count! In the beginning, we all thought Deku was weird for rewatching All Might videos again and again - but we all can’t get enough of this moment!

“Jujutsu Kaisen” (2020-)

Everybody loves Nanami, but this moment showed us all that not everyone loves him the same way. The strait-laced Jujutsu sorcerer comes to the rescue when sadistic killer Shigemo attacks Akari and Nobara. Furious that Shigemo has been targeting the auxiliary members of the team, Nanami proceeds to beat the life (and luck) out of Shigemo, all while demanding answers about Shigemo’s comrades. Although it’s an unusually erotic shot of Nanami that made the internet go wild for this scene, seeing Nanami knock the little twerp around is also quite satisfying (in a different way).

“One Piece” (1999-)

He may only show up every few hundred episodes, but any time Luffy’s mentor Shanks appears tends to be hype. Still, every other time pales in comparison to this one! When Eustass Kid rolls up and challenges Shanks, the cocky rookie prepares to unleash a devastating attack on Shanks’ allies. The red-haired Emperor’s future sight is strong enough to see it coming, and he takes off, leaping across ships. With a single, monumental attack, Divine Departure, Shanks takes out a pirate worth 3 billion, and his first mate Killer! The giants slicing his ship in two is just dessert after a filling meal! Fans have waited 25 years to see Shanks properly fight someone, and it was worth the wait!

“Pokémon” (1997-)

For decades, Ash Ketchum remained not only 10 years old, but also without any Pokémon League championship victories. At last, in the Alola League battle against Gladion, everything comes down to Ash’s Lycanroc facing off against Gladion’s. The mirror match concludes with Ash’s rock doggo Countering the Counter used against him. And sure, that makes about as much sense as any of the other cheap moves Ash’s Pokémon pull off, but the internet honestly didn’t care! Not if it meant Ash finally got to become “the very best, like no one ever was.”

Is there an anime knockout whose absence knocked you for a loop? Knock our socks off with your picks in the comments!