Only trolls think Oda was giving kaido a false hype
Kaido is the only character beside Imu that are destined to lose to Joyboy
Oda created a prophecy just for Kaido cause no one else could bet him 1v1. Even Joyboy Luffy didn't beat fresh Kaido 1v1
#ONEPIECE1167
Among all these legendary pirates, you can see how Oda always emphasizes Kaido and Big Mom, that they didn't become emperors for nothing and rose to power alongside Roger/Whitebeard.
Their influence, even after their defeat, remains extremely important to Oda.
#ONEPIECE1167
We learn in the chapter that Roger, Kaido, Whitebeard and Linlin conquering the seas after God Valley; they are portrayed as peak pirates.
#ONEPIECE
I agree.
Kaido was a monster.
After the Akazaya Nine, he went head-to-head with one of the most powerful supernovas, all the while he was carrying a huge weight on his shoulder. Most people forget to mention that he was literally carrying Onigashima with the weight of all the people in it, and still managed to give such a close battle, and previously, he was going toe-to-toe with Big Mom for like three days.
Luffy lost four times to him and literally went to heaven for a bit. The symbolism that it took Luffy dying to come back and beat him shows us that Luffy needed a second chance.
It hurts me to see people put him down, now that he lost, and because his backstory doesn't feel as substantial. It's all in the details. Kaido was and still is in the story the most challenging foe for Luffy and the others at this time.
He lived up to the hype and even surpassed it. Kaido was and is an amazing villain, and the details in his character are class. One Piece is about the journey, not the destination. Don't look at Kaido's destination. Look at his journey leading up to this imminent defeat, which took literally the main character becoming God to do.