User blog comment:Fliu/Chapter 985: Kaido's Big Plans/@comment-174.84.22.252-20200721160133/@comment-108.83.222.210-20200723224420

To each his own. Personally, I don't beleive in the concept of "plot armor". Plot convenince, plot device, luck, author's decision, author's mistake, poor writing, hasty decisions, and other such things yes, but plot armor no. Katakuri may have chosen to lose, but Luffy managed to fight him to the point that he respected Luffy even considering him an equal. Luffy managed to bring out the best in him, to the point that he was willing to discard his image and show who he really was. His reputation was an albatross around his neck, a weight that he chose to bear yet still weighed him down. It was a burden and a curse for him to have to keep that reputation and image. Luffy actually did him a favor there. Also at that point in the fight, I like to think that Katakuri chose to fight for himself and not for his mother.

I think he believes that Luffy will eventually be able to defeat Big Mom and that a part of him desires that outcome. As long as she remains captain Katakuri and all of her children will continue to live in her shadow. How many of them are naturally the way that they are and how many became that way because of her in some way? I darsay that Pudding and Katakuri are likely not the only ones who have molded their behavior to her expectations. While her loss will mean the loss of her power and reputation, it will also mean that her crew will not longer have to worry about keeping up with her hunger pangs and keeping her mood happy. Ultimatly, Luffy defeating Big Mom may very well be the best thing for their personal happiness and well-being. She will lose her thone and power eventually, no need for her to take all of them down with her.