Bergamo the Crusher played a surprisingly important role in setting the tone for Dragon Ball Super’s Tournament of Power. As the eldest member of Universe 9’s Trio de Dangers, Bergamo understood that his universe could be erased if it lost the upcoming tournament. Before fighting Goku, he used the situation to turn the other universes against Universe 7’s Saiyan, arguing that Goku was responsible for putting all the universes in danger.
His argument centered on the fact that Goku had encouraged the Omni-King to hold a tournament, while the defeated universes faced erasure. Bergamo then made a proposal to the Omni-King Zeno and Future Zeno: if he defeated Goku, the rule requiring defeated universes to be erased should be cancelled. The Omni-Kings accepted the condition, making Bergamo’s fight with Goku more significant than an ordinary exhibition battle.
Bergamo’s Plan and His Battle With Goku Explained
Bergamo’s strategy was partly psychological. He presented himself as someone trying to save every universe while portraying Goku as the selfish fighter responsible for the crisis. Several gods began viewing Goku negatively, but Goku did not accept Bergamo’s framing and remained determined to fight at full strength.
The battle itself revealed why Bergamo was called the Crusher. His special ability allowed him to absorb the energy from an opponent’s attacks, causing his body to become larger and stronger. He deliberately encouraged Goku to attack him, believing that absorbing Goku’s power would eventually make him strong enough to win.
Goku eventually recognized the weakness in Bergamo’s technique. Although Bergamo became considerably more powerful and physically imposing, his increasing size also made him easier for Goku to evade and attack. Goku transformed into Super Saiyan Blue, added the Kaio-ken, and unleashed a powerful Kamehameha that overwhelmed Bergamo rather than giving him the victory he expected.
Bergamo therefore failed to change the Omni-King’s decision, and Universe 9 remained threatened by the upcoming Tournament of Power. His defeat also had an important narrative consequence: instead of making Goku look like the villain, the battle showed that Goku was willing to confront the strongest warriors openly rather than deliberately throwing a fight to influence Zeno. Bergamo’s warning that every universe would target Goku ultimately became reality, making the exhibition match an important setup for the larger tournament.
| Date Aired (Start) | July 5, 2015 |
|---|---|
| Studio | Toei Animation |
| Director | Kimitoshi Chioka |
