>>39374786THAT'S how it ALWAYS should have been. Not some glorified one on one trainer battle in a small room with no spectators.
Ever since literally THE FIRST ANIME episode, Ash was watching it excitedly on TV.
Huge lights. Roaring crowd. Televised big battle with the challenger.
A Gym battle is like a sunday night sports event IRL. People pay big money to watch worthy trainers who made the cut/got selected to take on the Gym Battle challenge.