When Jujutsu Kaisen fans saw Satoru Gojo fall, the collective reaction was disbelief and outrage. How could the most powerful sorcerer, hyped endlessly for his unrivaled strength, fall in such a final, unceremonious fashion? But as divisive as the outcome was, the story behind his downfall isn’t as inconsistent as it might seem at first glance. In fact, it is thoroughly rooted in the rules and logic of the world Gege Akutami has built, however painful it may be for fans to accept.

Gojo’s loss was not a sudden twist for shock value. Instead, it was the culmination of exhaustion, trauma, and crucial underestimations. He had just survived a clash with the strongest version of Sukuna, and for all intents and purposes, he believed he had won. That belief cost him dearly. Sukuna did not outpunch Gojo, he outlasted him, biding time and using Mahoraga’s adaptation and his own cunning to find an opening. When that moment came, Gojo did not see it in time. Not because he wasn’t fast enough, but because he was already past his limit.

The Warning Signs Were There

Gojo Was Weakened and That Is Why He Ultimately Lost

One of the clearest signals of Gojo’s disadvantage comes from Sukuna himself. After the battle, Sukuna notes that Maki was more capable of tracking his attacks than any other sorcerer, which is something he never says about Gojo. This subtle omission hints that Gojo’s perception had already dulled. Mahoraga adapted to Gojo’s Infinity earlier, and Sukuna learned from that adaptation. By the time he delivered the final blow, Gojo was simply too worn down to read Sukuna’s technique, especially since he was only reacting to surface cues, like Sukuna’s hand gestures.

That lapse was not just physical, it was neurological. Gojo had already suffered brain damage, had pushed himself through a series of Black Flashes, and was operating on borrowed time. Each moment of brilliance took a toll, and his defenses slowly eroded without him fully realizing it. His confidence, well-earned as it was, played a role too. He had just defeated a godlike opponent, and in that fleeting relief, he believed it was over. That sense of victory let his guard down at the worst possible moment.

The Fight Was Never Just About Power

Jujutsu Kaisen's Biggest Fight Was About Much More Than Power

Gojo’s defeat was not a betrayal of his power, it was a consequence of how power works in Jujutsu Kaisen. The series has always emphasized tactics and adaptation over raw strength. Sukuna did not win by being stronger; he won by learning, adapting, and waiting. Gojo fought the best fight of his life, and Sukuna respected that by acknowledging how hard it was. But in a battle of monsters, it is not the biggest punch that decides the winner, it is who lasts one moment longer.

By letting Gojo fall like this, Jujutsu Kaisen stays true to its themes. There is no such thing as an invincible sorcerer, only one who has not met his match yet. Gojo finally met his match, and while it hurts to see, the story did not cheat. His fall was brutal, but it made sense. And more importantly, it was earned, making the fight sequence between Satoru Gojo and Sukuna one of the best in the Jujutsu Kaisen series.