Who Ultimately Won in the Creed Movie Trilogy? Adonis Creed Reigns Victorious

As a passionate gaming and entertainment commentator who has followed the iconic Rocky and Creed movie franchises for decades, one of the most common questions I get from fans is: who ultimately wins out of the main conflicts in the new Creed saga? While Adonis "Donnie" Creed faces no shortage of struggles and setbacks across Creed 1, 2 and 3, he definitively comes out on top in the end.

Creed (2015) – Donnie Loses the Battle but Wins the War

In the exhilarating climax of the first Creed movie, young upstart Donnie Creed takes on lethal champion Pretty Ricky Conlan, who‘s never been knocked down before. Early on, Donnie struggles with Conlan‘s relentless pressure and debilitating body shots. But a vision of his late father Apollo Creed inspires Donnie to courageously rally. In a dramatic moment, Donnie becomes the first boxer to floorthe champ! He almost finishes Conlan off, but ultimately loses a controversial split decision:

Now while Donnie loses on the judges‘ scorecards, I‘d actually argue he wins in a meta sense. This fight cements Donnie as a legitimate contender capable of hanging with the very best. It also provides the perfect palette for an underdog sequel story. From a gaming franchise perspective, the hero losing early on before rising up again is a tried and tested trope to invest audiences emotionally. This fight may mark a loss on Donnie‘s record, but it gives him the fuel to develop into the champion we later cheer for.

Creed II (2018) – Donnie Vanquishes His Father‘s Demons

In Creed II, a hungry Viktor Drago arrives seeking revenge for his father‘s loss years ago against Apollo Creed. The Drago family name was disgraced when Apollo died at Ivan Drago‘s hands in Rocky IV, setting up immense personal stakes. Early rounds are tense as Viktor batters Donnie with his fathers brute style. But when Viktor makes the mistake of pushing too hard for a knockout, a resolute Donnie starts picking him apart:

In another dramatic moment, Donnie sends Viktor crashing down for good in the final round, retaining his heavyweight crown. This was hugely cathartic not just for Donnie, but for Rocky, Apollo‘s widow Mary Anne, and fans worldwide still stung by Apollo‘s unfair end. The demons of the past can finally be laid to rest now. As a legacy sequel, I feel Creed II did admirably well continuing the mythology, with a heroic ending for the digital age.

Creed III (2023) – Donnie Silences His Doubters

The long-awaited second sequel Creed III sees Donnie‘s fears and insecurities brought roaring back when childhood friend – and new contender – Damian "Dame" Anderson confronts him. Dame discovers Donnie is too afraid to fight without Rocky in his corner anymore. Early on Dame outfights and outfoxes Donnie just like old times. But Donnie remembers who he is – the champion – and turns the tables on Dame late for another explosive KO finish:

This was a nice full circle moment for Donnie. He no longer needs Rocky‘s helping hand and can stand on the courage of his own convictions. As Dame sails through the ropes in defeat, every critic who said Donnie was nothing without Rocky is firmly silenced. It‘s a fitting final championship stamp for Donnie‘s video game-esque hero‘s journey across three films.

So while Donnie endures punishing storylines and setbacks every time, his fortunes ultimately receive an upgrade with each movie. Much like a great video game protagonist, with every battle lost he finds the strength within to evolve his skills and conquer the next big boss. As a passionate gaming aficionado and entertainment commentator, I definitely consider the Creed saga right up there with the very best interactive underdog triumphs!

Let me know your thoughts in the comments – did you enjoy Donnie‘s victor journey across Creed? How do the final fight finishes compare to Rocky‘s most epic moments? Looking forward to hearing your perspectives!