With Ash becoming Champion last month along with a new game, let's see how previous champions rank.
Blue - Iconic rival but rather unimpressive Champion, he'd almost be considered a villain.
Trace - Doesn't really strike me as the Champion type and he's much nicer as a rival than Blue.
Lance - As Champions have evolved Lance is looking less impressive by the day and he knows it.
Red - His presence as the ultimate Champion gave Gold and Silver it's title as best Pokemon game.
Steven - I find him more charismatic than Lance and gave Steel types some weight.
Wallace - I consider him a strange choice considering there is still a water gym as the last gym making him the easiest to defeat.
Cynthia - Outright iconic Champion and would argue the strongest trainer in Pokemon history.
Alder - The Pokemon equivalent of Jiraiya, but past his best and lost to N quite easily.
Iris - Same as Wallace, but worse as I consider Drayden a bigger challenge.
Diantha - Certainly has a presence but doesn't exactly do much in her game.
Kukui - Alola doesn't have a Champion so I'm using Kukui instead, goofy but has a proven track record for being a tough fight.
Leon - He's grown on me in recent years and feels like the definition of just being a formidable opponent who enjoys what he does.
Mustard - Clearly hasn't lost his edge and is nice to see a former Champion look like an old master.
Peony - I question his credentials as champion mostly because he's too goofy.
Nemona - It's easy to forget that Nemona is indeed a champion but I'm left wondering what her real team is as opposed to the one she trains alongside you.
Geeta - She's less champion and more boss of a corporation, not helping is that she's the easiest champion to defeat as she fails to take advantage of any of her Pokemon's abilities.
Blue - 6.7/10
Trace - 6.3/10
Lance - 6.4/10
Red - 9.8/10
Steven - 8.5/10
Wallace - 7.0/10
Cynthia - 10/10
Alder - 4.7/10
Iris - 5.9/10
Diantha - 6.9/10
Kukui - 8.0/10
Leon - 8.8/10
Mustard - 8.1/10
Peony - 5.5/10
Nemona - 7.5/10
Geeta - 5.0/10
