MCU Phase 4: Had Captain America lost his edge in 'Avengers: Endgame'?
How often have we seen a man like Steve Rogers get walloped? Surprising, considering he kept himself in fighting shape ever since he woke up after being on ice. He may have had his limelight in 'Avengers: Endgame', however, the super-soldier came quite close to death and there are ample instances to support this theory. Talking about this at this stage may seem a bit too late, but try telling that to Marvel fans who are still decoding various theories.
When 2019 Rogers faced off against his 2012 self, he barely managed to land a punch. In his defense, he was fighting himself. But right from the start of the encounter, it was evident that the 2012 version was stronger, seven years younger and was in a fighting stance even before the present-day Rogers could work a way out. While he may have outwitted his past self, it almost came too late as he risked being choked. Next up, the blast at the Avengers HQ where he blacks out due to the impact. Call it sixth sense, but the earlier version of Cap would have sensed something coming a mile away.
Then comes the fight against Thanos (Josh Brolin) himself. After taking a blow, he manages to summon Mjolnir, but that scrimmage where he had Thanos on the ropes was just a minor victory. He was quickly overpowered and if not for the return of the rest of the Avengers, Cap would pretty much have gone down fighting. Lost his edge? Quite possible and there's a believable theory.
Fans theorize that all this was the lifestyle the post-snap Rogers lived. There wasn't anybody left to fight, so training took a backseat. He was spending his time and energy with a survivors group. Again, none of this is his fault really. It could rather be termed as a break period for a man who fought countless missions and came out victorious each time. Adding to the trauma of the snap, it is understandable that Cap was probably at his weakest.
'Avengers: Endgame' is available for streaming on Disney +.