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Karate Kid: Legends didn’t just serve up another roundhouse kick of nostalgia; it delivered one of the most unexpected (and oddly delightful) reunions in the dojo. But Johnny Lawrence’s blink-and-you-will-miss-it cameo might have been too good for its own good.
The final scene of Legends brings William Zabka’s Johnny crashing into the film’s calm landing with a slice of pizza and a whole lot of punchlines. After Daniel LaRusso receives a surprise thank-you pie from Li Fong and Victor in New York, Johnny strolls in and cracks jokes about cross-country pizza etiquette. Then he drops a bomb of a pitch: a karate-themed pizzeria called “Miyagi-Dough.” Yes, dough. And that’s where the ‘blessing and curse’ thing kicks in.
William Zabka Steals The Show In Karate Kid: Legends & Exposes What’s Missing
Zabka hasn’t missed a beat since Cobra Kai. His timing, his delivery, that blend of confident chaos and heart? All intact. He ad-libs through the final scene of Legends as if it’s second nature, a winner. Director Jonathan Entwistle even revealed how top-secret the moment was, saying (via ScreenRant): “We snuck him in and we hid him away almost in the closet, in Miyagi’s closet… Then Ralph was there and they did their thing. They got amazing chemistry from the show.”
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Which is exactly the problem: Legends doesn’t have that chemistry outside this one scene. The film’s leads, Ben Wang and Sadie Stanley, are solid. Their chemistry works. But much of the film’s humor feels more like filler than flavor. A few distorted music gags here, some forced quips there, and suddenly, Johnny’s comedic gold sticks out like a sore thumb (in a good way).
The best part of #KarateKidLegends was William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence in it for about 2 minutes pic.twitter.com/dbWpub8hq8
— Ashley Haas (@ashleyhaas42) June 5, 2025
William Zabka’s return isn’t just a nod. It’s a canon-confirming, scene-stealing, franchise-elevating move. But now the bar’s set. The friendship between Johnny and Daniel — painstakingly rebuilt in Cobra Kai—is fully displayed in Legends. Ralph Macchio even said: “He’s a brother man… He graces Cobra Kai with a brilliant performance and he graces us here with a tip of the hat to the legendary Johnny Lawrence.” It’s great and heartfelt, but it also exposes just how much Legends missed having that dynamic throughout the film.
Johnny Lawrence’s Cameo Kicks Open Doors, But Karate Kid: Legends Plays It Safe
Johnny’s cameo opens doors. A possible Cobra Kai movie? Team-ups with Mr. Han? Rivalries with Victor? All on the table now. But it also makes Legends feel like a setup rather than a payoff. Instead of standing on its own, it leans hard on what worked before without fully building on it.
If Karate Kid: Legends is the bridge between generations, Johnny Lawrence might be the only one walking across it with confidence. That’s the blessing. The curse? Now, fans will expect that same spark every time. And that’s a tough pizza to deliver.
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