>>15435411Barry was good because he was a competent trainer and a good friend.
But what made him a good rival is that he was an annoying piece of shit.
You wanted to smash his pokemon. You wanted to beat his ass. You wanted to shame him in battle in front of his father. And after you you win, every time, he just becomes that little bit more annoying, fueling your desire for the rematch where you curbstomp his entire team.
Now that's a rival. Not an enemy or a buddy, but a rival.