What If Goku Never Hit His Head? 5 Dark Ways DBZ Would Become a Nightmare

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One of the exciting features of the Dragon Ball series lies in how subtle changes in various events can drastically reshape the storyline on a grand scale. For instance, even small differences in Goku’s life or those of his friends could potentially lead to a darker timeline where villains like Frieza, Cell, or others achieve their destructive ambitions. In essence, if Goku were unable to become Earth’s protector as fans are familiar with, it would alter the Dragon Ball franchise more significantly than any other change.

In an alternate universe, if Goku hadn’t stumbled as a child and suffered the amnesia that led him down the path of a hero, he wouldn’t have grown up under Grandpa Gohan’s care and instead would have remained a ruthless Saiyan conqueror. His change in personality might not make him powerful enough to conquer Earth, but the devastation it would cause would be on a global scale.

Master Roshi Would Have Eventually Been Forced to Kill Goku

Before any later changes in the storyline, Goku, a weak Saiyan baby, was sent from Planet Vegeta to Earth as part of a plan to eliminate Earth’s weaker inhabitants. When Grandpa Gohan found him, he was a troublesome and aggressive child, but his extremely low power level prevented him from carrying out this mission. A crucial event involving Goku hitting his head altered his course and provided him with a necessary personality change before he grew strong enough to pose a threat. If not for this incident, Goku would have become powerful enough that only the world’s strongest fighters could contain him.

Regardless of any affection Grandpa Gohan might have cultivated with Goku, he’d unfortunately meet his untimely demise at the hands of his adoptive son, triggered by his first transformation into a Great Ape. Given his detachment from humanity and the aggressive instincts inherited from his Saiyan lineage, Goku would likely unleash a destructive rampage. At this point in time, Goku wouldn’t be the most potent being on Earth, but he’d still possess sufficient power to eliminate any ordinary person he encountered. Among those who could potentially intervene, such as Ox-King and Mercenary Tao, it would likely be left to Master Roshi to step up. Despite his intentions to guide Goku towards a different path and his efforts to make him see reason, Roshi’s wisdom might go unheeded. In the end, Master Roshi would find himself in an agonizing position, forced to take the life of the boy who, under different circumstances, is almost like a son to him.

No One Would Have Stopped Pilaf From Taking Over the World

In the scenario where Goku wasn’t present at the beginning of the original Dragon Ball series, the cunning trio of Emperor Pilaf, Shu, and Mai would persistently strive for global conquest. Their strategy would involve gathering the Dragon Balls, which coincidentally, they’d be seeking at the same time as Bulma. However, without Goku’s assistance, Bulma would find herself in a precarious position. Although she was the mastermind of the original Dragon Team, Goku was both its strength and its soul. Even if she managed to outsmart Oolong and Yamcha, her adventure would likely end with her being turned into a carrot by Monster Carrot. Without Goku’s intervention to save her, Yamcha too would meet a similar fate of vegetable transformation. With no Dragon Team to hinder them, the Pilaf Gang could potentially amass all seven Dragon Balls, thereby granting Emperor Pilaf his wish for world domination.

In my fervent imagination, if Master Roshi, Ox-King, Nam, and Bora were in the picture, they’d leap into action, but their fight wouldn’t end victoriously. Even if Shenron granted Pilaf more power, there’d be no scarcity of malevolent forces eager to serve him for exclusive perks. The thought of Pilaf collaborating with Dr. Gero is chilling enough, but the truth is, most Earth’s heroes wouldn’t stand a chance against these adversaries, and even Master Roshi would ultimately succumb. With Pilaf ruling uncontested, none of the original events in Dragon Ball would unfold. The Red Ribbon Army would cease to exist as an independent force, King Piccolo would never be liberated from his rice cooker, which means there’d be no Piccolo Jr to pose a threat. For 12 long years, the world of Dragon Ball would be a living nightmare.

Raditz Would Have No Reason Not to Massacre Every Single Earthling

In a world where Goku never sustained head injuries, the most powerful Earth warriors by the time of Dragon Ball Z would have been Tien Shinhan and Mercenary Tao. Kami, still present as Earth’s last defense, would also be part of this picture. This scenario leaves Earth vulnerable when Raditz eventually arrives. Raditz’s scouter would lead him to Tien, and once he swiftly eliminates him and the rest of the strongest fighters serving Pilaf, it becomes clear to him that his weak brother has perished.

In this situation, Raditz, possessing power levels ranging from 1200 to 1500, would prove to be an overwhelming force. Given that he’s here to clean up Kakarot’s mess, he’d wipe out the entire Earth population in a relatively short time. Even if Kami intervened to fight, it wouldn’t make much of a difference. After completing his task, Raditz would return to Vegeta and Nappa, leaving behind a devastated Earth. Consequently, neither the Androids nor Majin Buu would pose threats ever again.

Goku in Canon is Responsible For the Lives of Many Important Characters

If Goku had been deceased prior to the beginning of Dragon Ball, it would result in several beloved characters not being born. Most notably, this encompasses those who are half-Saiyan, such as Gohan and Goten. Even Chi-Chi could theoretically have children with another individual, but they wouldn’t be Saiyan-hybrids like their counterparts; instead, they would be purely human. Furthermore, this also implies that Pan would never be born under these circumstances.

If it weren’t for Goku’s children not existing, Piccolo wouldn’t have been born, because the events leading to his birth – the Pilaf Gang freeing King Piccolo from Master Mutaito’s trap – would never have occurred. Consequently, King Piccolo would have remained imprisoned forever and never had the opportunity to give birth to Piccolo or any other offspring. Since Raditz wiped out Earth’s population, including Bulma, Trunks, Bulla, Krillin, Android 18’s daughter, and their counterparts from alternate timelines like Future Trunks, they would never have been born either. Additionally, Uub, the reincarnation of Kid Buu wished into existence by Goku, also wouldn’t exist in this scenario.

No One Would Ever Come Close to Surpassing Frieza in Strength

Before the events of the original Dragon Ball series, Frieza ruled Universe 7 with an iron fist. It was only due to a chance encounter with Goku, when the Saiyan warrior had the ability to resist him and potentially defeat him, that Frieza’s reign came to an end. With Goku dead, there were no other Saiyans left in the series Dragon Ball Z who could pose a threat to Frieza or become Super Saiyans. Even considering characters like Broly and Paragus from Dragon Ball Super, they had no intention of overthrowing the tyrant.

If Goku hadn’t sustained that head injury, Frieza likely would have maintained his ruthless rule over Universe 7, inflicting pain and suffering at his leisure. While Nappa, Raditz, and even some members of Frieza’s army might have survived under these conditions, the vast majority of beings in Universe 7 would face a life of misery. This harsh reality would extend to Vegeta, who would have endured more torment and abuse at Frieza’s hands for years on end.

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2025-05-11 01:03