>>27315418The design being the same is real, the in-universe explanation is not but has never been contradicted either making if just a crazy fan theory that might be true. Way to talk shit and shrug at backing it up by the way, faggot.
Both use the basic placeholder design from the early stages of gen 1 development, along with Rhydon which was the very first Pokemon to be finalized by slightly altering its shape from that and increasing the size.
You can try to explain it if you want, but its actually only a relic of the early sketches. Pic related in fact is the very first Pokemon art.