23rd Budokai Initial Tenshinhan

[SSJ2]

His effort against Cyborg Tao garnered these comments. Was the level he showed there above that of Krillin and Yamcha?

 

[Captain Cadaver]

Yes, and by far. Yamcha was in awe at the Super Dodonpa, which Tenshinhan negated with a kiai.

 

[SSJ2]

By far? I don't see any reason for initial Tenshinhan to be above initial Piccolo Jr, who Krillin was capable of keeping up with. In fact, Piccolo mentioned that his world domination would be made more difficult after fighting Krillin, yet wasn't impressed by Tenshinhan's effort against Tao at all. Seems odd.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

It would make less sense for Kuririn to refer to Tenshinhan as having become "too strong" if he wasn't far above him and Yamcha, given Ten was already significantly above them at the previous Budokai. Piccolo not making note of Tenshinhan at first yet doing so for Kuririn is likely to do with several factors such as Piccolo already having enough experience with Tenshinhan to view him as a somewhat talented fighter by human standards, Kuririn personally putting up a good fight against him and it not really meaning much more than there's one more strong human Piccolo didn't factor in, considering Kuririn would ultimately prove no difficulty to him as shown later.

 

[GSM123]

Herms makes things a bit more clear on the matter:

Chapter: 170, P13.3-4
Kame-sennin: “Wow…To think that he’s grown into that great a martial artist…I no longer have any role to play at all…”
Yamcha: “Boy, I give up…”
Kuririn: “Maybe he’s a little too strong…”

I’m not sure if he displays even more power vs Goku (although he certainly displayed more speed), but he’s already outdoing Yamcha and Kuririn with the beatdown he laid on Tao. Piccolo praizing Kuririn doesn’t downplay Tenshinhan at all, since we don’t even see his thoughts on him.

 

[ahill1]

At least Tsuru-Sen'nin got it right, Tenshinhan suffered a painful death

 

[GSM123]

DBS killed him from AIDS

 

[DBZAOTA482]

Tien was definitely above Krillin and Yamcha given their comments plus neither of them mentioned him using his true strength like they did Goku before they fought.

His handling of Tao was just a taste of what he can really do.