'Cobra Kai' spoilers! William Zabka spills on Johnny Lawrence's 'breakthrough moment'
'The Karate Kid' ended with Ralph Macchio's Daniel LaRusso being carried off the mat by fans in victory. Forty years later in the series finale episode of 'Cobra Kai,' it's the same mat but a different winner, with Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) lifted up by his students and basking in sweet redemption.
'Who doesn't want to be on the shoulders of everybody? Especially Johnny. I'm really in character when I'm doing that,' says Zabka, 59, who reprised his 'Karate Kid' antagonist (and 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament runner-up) for the popular Netflix series. 'It was a breakthrough moment for him. And to be lifted up by his kids who he loved and gave so much of his best self to as he could, it was great, man.'
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Decades after a crane kick to the face felled bullying teen Johnny, six seasons of 'Cobra Kai' chronicled his comeback. He rebooted the Cobra Kai dojo and facing his hard-nosed old sensei John Kreese (Martin Kove). And Johnny guided the martial arts know-how of a new generation of kids, reconnecting with his estranged son Robby (Tanner Buchanan), and even befriended Daniel (Ralph Macchio), though not without the occasional rough patch.
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In the closing episodes of the series (streaming now), his pupils Miguel (Xolo Maridueña) and Tory (Peyton List) win the boys and girls competitions of the international Sekai Taikai tourney. To win the event, though, Cobra Kai has to beat the Iron Dragons in a battle of senseis: Johnny vs. the Dragons' Wolf (Lewis Tan). Thanks to help from Daniel, Johnny beats the younger, stronger foe as part of his happy ending, which also includes buying a house for wife Carmen (Vanessa Rubio) and their new baby girl, plus welcoming a fresh crop of Cobra Kai hopefuls.
Zabka talks with USA TODAY about finishing 'Cobra Kai,' the one 'Karate Kid' cameo that got away and what's next. (Edited for length and clarity.)
Q: Was Johnny having the final match always the ending of the show?
William Zabka: They didn't tell me the ending. There was no Sekai Taikai in the original pitch. He starts by himself in apartment with the Coors Banquet (beer), and he doesn't even have a fish. He has no friends and bumps into this kid (Miguel) who sparks life in him, and that leads to Carmen and that opens his heart up again. He's redeemed at the end not because he has a trophy or that he has a dojo, but that he's bettered himself while still holding onto the things that make him unique.
The original movie's montage anthem 'You're the Best Around' comes back around when Daniel is training Johnny before his big showdown. Was it weird to see Ralph wearing a Cobra Kai gi?
Honestly, yeah. I had a really good hearty laugh when I came off the mat, and he had to be my sensei barking orders at me. I think he looks great in the Cobra Kai gi. I love to see Daniel dirty. I like to see him rough around the edges and not so controlled, when he's a little unhinged. The Johnny in me has a new respect for LaRusso.
I love that moment in the final match that shows how much Johnny's grown, stepping back in a defensive stance rather than surging forward like he did in '84. Everything hinges on that.
If Johnny didn't lean into the crane kick (in '84), it would've been a different life. If he learned anything, he learned to take a little step back here and there. In every way.
The show had so many story line echoes, Easter eggs and character returns from the three '80s movies. Is there anything or anybody you wished had returned one more time?
We were very close to having Chad McQueen come in as Dutch. Unfortunately, he passed away (in September). The scene would've been in the beginning of the final episode, which was replaced by me visiting my mom at the grave. We were in touch with him the whole time. He almost made it in Season 2 with the (Cobra Kai) guys and we were taking a motorcycle ride up to the mountains and camping out. I would've loved to see Dutch, and I know the fans would've loved to see him.
So what's next for you? Ralph's playing Daniel in an upcoming 'Karate Kid' movie …
What?! Ralph's doing a movie?! That idiot. Just kidding. (Laughs) This has been a big baby to birth in a way. I'm very satisfied with the ending, and I'm just gonna reset and see what comes my way.
The world sees Johnny Lawrence differently after this show. Does Hollywood see William Zabka differently, too?
I don't know how they can't. Really, the trajectory of my career went from 'The Karate Kid.' I was known as the bad guy in the movies I did in the '80s. But this is a new day in that way. I've been able to access my whole tool belt of colors of comedy and action and drama.
I always kind of felt like the only way that I'll get on the other side of the shadow of Johnny Lawrence is to go through the eye of the needle and play him again. That's what I feel like I've done with this and help people understand him. It definitely opens the doors up more, I think, than before this happened, let's just say that.
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