Summary
Being the second-strongest character in the show is not easy, especially considering the amount of pride Vegeta has in being a first-class Saiyan and the son of King Vegeta. Though he hasfought quite a few battlesand grown stronger over time, Vegeta’s victories are either short-lived or end up giving way to an even bigger threat that he isn’t strong enough to handle.
And that’s when Goku has to step in and take the win for the team to protect the Earth. This list will consider only the canon fights in which Vegeta suffered a decisive loss against his enemy and will ignore any training battles.
13Vegeta Vs. Goku
Running With His Tail Between His Legs
His first-ever loss came at the very beginning ofDragon Ball Z,in the Saiyan Saga. Instead of making short work of Planet Earth and erasing its population to claim it for Lord Frieza, Vegeta started to toy with the Z-fighters, enjoying their suffering and fueling his pride. But that all was over after Goku arrived from King Kai’s planet.
Even though Vegeta didn’t lose directly to Goku, he did suffer a decisive defeat from the combined efforts of the Earthlings, including Krillin, Gohan, and even Yajirobe. Goku managed to weaken Vegeta, especially after thespirit bomb, and when Gohan fell on Vegeta in his Ozaru form, that spelled the end for Vegeta. He only managed to barely escape because of Goku requesting Krillin to let him go.
12Vegeta Vs. Zarbon
Defeated By Ugliness
Saiyans get stronger after near-death experiences, and Vegeta’s defeat on Earth made him more powerful. That’s why he was easily able to overpower Dodoria when he went to Namek in search of Dragon Balls.
Vegeta even managed to toss around Zarbon, who’s stronger than Dodoria, but after Zarbon transformed, it was over for him. Zarbon’s transformation made him ugly, but much stronger than his base form, and he almost killed Vegeta with a pile drive straight to the ground. Even though Vegeta managed to survive this battle and later killed Zarbon, he suffered a major loss against Zarbon here.
11Vegeta Vs. Recoome
Vegeta Lacking Endurance
The Ginyu Force consisted ofFrieza’s best, if not the brightest, warriors in the universe. Recoome was part of this force and took on the Z-fighters after Vegeta sliced off Guldo’s head.
Despite being stronger than ever and landing a lot of good hits on Recoome, Vegeta couldn’t put him down for good and Recoome would’ve almost annihilated Vegeta with his Eareser gun if it weren’t for Gohan flying in to rescue Vegeta.
10Vegeta Vs. Frieza
Open Defiance Against His Ruler
While Goku was getting healed, Vegeta once again gets his ego challenged by none other than Frieza, who has ruled over him and his people for decades, and even destroyed Planet Vegeta and killed every Saiyan on it. Claiming to have become a Super Saiyan, Vegeta goes against the tyrant but only manages to surprise Frieza with how strong he has become before Frieza unveils his transformation.
Withevery transformation, Frieza gets stronger, and when Vegeta finally faces him in his final form, he is brutally tortured and has his Saiyan pride crushed by Frieza. Moments after Goku finally arrives on the scene, Frieza shoots a beam through Vegeta’s chest, killing him.
9Vegeta Vs. Andoird 18
Humbled By A Machine
Vegeta’s pride is once again at its peak when he finally becomes a Super Saiyan. The Android saga opens up with Dr. Gero and Android 19 terrorizing the population, and while they prove to be too strong for other Z-fighters, Vegeta easily takes on Android 19 and kills it.
But once Android 17 and 18 are activated by Dr. Gero, it’s over for Vegeta. While Goku is off healing from the heart virus, Vegeta fights against Android 18 and not only gets his pride broken, but also his arm.
8Future Vegeta (Trunks Timeline) Vs. Android 17
Too Easy Of A Death
Android 18 isn’t the only humanoid that puts Vegeta into the ground, her brother Android 17 also takes a shot at Vegeta. Only this time, the Vegeta is fromFuture Trunks’s timeline.
Shown very briefly while Trunks is recalling how all of the Z-fighters died in his timeline, Android 17 easily overpowers a Super Saiyan Vegeta with Ki-blasts and then kills him before moving on to other Z-fighters. With Piccolo also killed, there was no way for Vegeta to get revived, which is how Trunks’s timeline has only him and Gohan as the remaining fighters.
7Vegeta Vs. Perfect Cell
Vegeta’s Own Undoing
After coming out from theHyperbolic time chamberwith a brand new transformation, Vegeta is yet again at the top of the world. He easily crushes Semi-Perfect Cell, but disappointed by the lack of challenge from his opponent, in his pride, he helps Cell absorb Android 18 so Cell can become Perfect. That was what spelled Vegeta’s downfall.
Even in his Ascended Super Saiyan form, Vegeta cannot hold his own against Perfect Cell, and while he does land a few good hits on him, Cell easily regains the upper hand and ends up knocking the Super Saiyan out of Vegeta.
6Vegeta Vs. Majin Buu
An Unstoppable Force Losing To A Resilient Opponent
Despite saying thathe is no warrior and that he will never fight again, Vegeta is back for another round of getting his pride hurt in the Majin Buu saga. After getting his mind taken over by Babidi, Vegeta gets stronger in his Majin form and fights Goku, despite knowing that doing so will revive Majin Buu.
As predicted, the battle of the two Saiyans is cut short by the arrival of Majin Buu, whose strength and superior regenerative powers once again humble Vegeta. But this time, Vegeta tries to sacrifice himself for his friends by going out with a bang, literally. Sadly, he only manages to kill himself as Buu revives himself unscathed.
5Vegeta Vs. Kid Buu
Fighting For Time
Majin Buu goes through various forms, but his final and strongest form is Kid Buu. With the Z-fighters at the brink of defeat and Goku and Vegeta almost completely exhausted, Goku asks Vegeta to distract Buu long enough to charge a Spirit Bomb, and Vegeta does exactly that.
Despite being weaker and knowing he would lose against Buu, Vegeta puts up a valiant effort that allows Goku to charge up the biggest Spirit Bomb yet and the first one that ever ends up killing an enemy.
4Vegeta Vs. Beerus
Vegeta Never Stood A Chance
InDragon Ball Super,fans are introduced to the Destroyer of Universe 7, Beerus, and it’s appropriate that he’sthe strongest being(excluding Whis) at that point in the Dragon Ball series. Everybody is on edge when Beerus arrives on Earth since he’s so powerful he could destroy the entire planet with a single “Hakai.”
Even though Vegeta is trying his best to make sure that no one angers Beerus, when the Destroyer slaps Bulma, Vegeta loses all control and turns Super Saiyan 2. He lands a few good blows on Beerus but that’s all, and with a single flick of a finger, Beerus knocks Vegeta out.
