This episode marks the first appearance of several of Ash's Pokémon after long absences:
- Lapras, who last appeared in Laplace's Song! (2002), 960 episodes earlier.
- Pidgeot and Primeape, who both last appeared in Burn, Lizardon! VS Kairyu! (2013), 444 episodes earlier. However, since Pidgeot was seen as a Pidgeotto in that episode, its last appearance as a Pidgeot before this episode was in a flashback in Kikyo Gym! Sky Battle!! (2000)
- Goodra, who last appeared in The Endless Zero! Until the Day We Meet Again!! (2016), 278 episodes earlier.
- Butterfree and Squirtle, who both last appeared in Alola at Kanto! Takeshi and Kasumi!! (2017), 236 episodes earlier.
- This episode also marks the first time Ambipom is seen since it's release in Pokémon Ping Pong Tournament! Eteboth Does Her Best!! (2009), though she was seen as an Aipom in a flashback in Training Battle of Flames! Satoshi VS Shinji!! (2022)
Since Brock and Cilan are shown watching Ash's battle together, it's most likely that they have learned they are both mutual friends of his after failing to do so in Dent and Takeshi! Gyarados's Imperial Rage!! (2013).
In Japan, special screenings of Ash's winning ceremony were held in Shibuya.
The painting on the wall of Ash's hotel room at the end of the episode is similar to "A sailing ship on a high sea by moonlight" by Ivan Aivazovsky. His greatest work is considered to be a painting called "The Ninth Wave", making this a potential reference to Generation IX.
Ash flipping his hat when he and Pikachu are ready to finish off the battle against Leon is a nearly identical callback to when Ash did so during his battle with Tobias and his Latios in The Semi-Final Frontier! (2010)