Pokémon's Jessie and James are two of anime's most iconic villains, constantly trying and failing to capture Ash's incredibly powerful Pikachu. And for a very brief time in the show's past, they took their villainy to the next level -- becoming Viridian City Gym Leaders who almost obliterated Ash's dreams of becoming a Pokémon Master.
The gym's original leader was Giovanni, also the founder of Team Rocket. However, while Gary Oak ended up facing Giovanni and losing in a horrific battle against Mewtwo, Ash never confronted him. Instead, Giovanni had to leave on a sudden personal mission with Mewtwo, leaving Jessie and James in charge of the gym to battle Ash. Here's the wild story of how, in the most unlikely of circumstances, Ash managed to win his eighth and final gym badge.
Team Rocket's Advantage Against Ash
Team Rocket had every advantage against Ash. For one, they had access to Giovanni's Pokémon, all of which were extremely powerful. While Giovanni went easy on Gary at first, there were several fully evolved Pokémon, such as Machamp and Golem, in his possession. The only one they couldn't use was their boss's personal Persian.
On top of that, Jessie and James incorporated two platforms upon which the Gym Leaders and challenger would stand. James rigged these contraptions so that their opponent would be bombarded with electric shocks every time their Pokémon were damaged. Sometimes, these shocks would even temporarily paralyze a target. Of course, the Gym Leaders were also subject to this pain, as Jessie suddenly realized when the tide turned against them. James admitted he rigged both sides because he saw no outcome where they'd end up losing with Giovanni's Pokémon.
How Ash Won His 8th Gym Badge
Jessie uses all of Machamp, Kingler and Rhydon against Ash. At first, Machamp brutalizes Ash's Squirtle while Kingler demolishes his Bulbasaur. The battle doesn't turn in Ash's favor until Rhydon's battle, where Pidgeotto manages to overcome its steely opponent. It is then that Jessie, panicking as the shocks bombard her, throws Arbok and Weezing into the fight, which Pikachu manages to ward off. Giovanni's other Pokémon retreat on their own during the chaos, resulting in Ash being the winner.
Meowth had a backup plan, though, where he rigged the platforms to explode. Gary, of all people, manages to tackle the switch out of Meowth's hands -- only for Misty's Togepi to find it. As Ash argues he deserves the badge to a scornful Jessie, who remains unwilling to admit defeat, Togepi blows up Team Rocket's stand, creating an explosion that sends the trio blasting off into the sky -- and demolishes Giovanni's gym.
Ultimately, Ash wins the badge only because he fought substitute gym leaders while Giovanni's mightiest Pokémon, Mewtwo, had been out of the building at the time. In the next episode, Team Rocket is seen begging for Giovanni's forgiveness. While he does grant it, it's only knowing that none of their screw-ups does can turn the tide against him now that he has the mystical Mewtwo.
