What was the plan if Daniel didn't make it to the finals?

I always wondered that too, but lets be honest in reality Cobra Kai would have kicked Danielson's ass and Mr Miyagi would not have survived against them either. There would never have been a treaty being reached in the Cobra Kai dojo.

Johnny would have beat his ass in the car park.

Miyagi explained that in the movie. The idea was for Daniel to show he could match them. If he didn't make it to the finale, he would at least have shown he could handle himself and hopefully the Kai would leave him alone.

Kreese said it would be open season on him and Daniel, meaning they'd torture the kid.

Kreese:

But I like that. No one touches the prima donna until the tournament.

Is that understood?

Yes, Sensei!

But if you don't show . . . then it's open season on him . . . and you.


The implication here is that if Daniel shows up and competes then he's in the clear. Kreese obviously thinks Danial will get beaten badly.

The only real question is . . . can Kreese be trusted?

Kreese had to rely on the street smarts he acquired in Nam.

If you watch closely, it’s obvious even then, that Terry Silver was pulling the strings.

Realistically Daniel versus Johnny should’ve been a first round match, not the final. Johnny was the defending champion, and Daniel was a newcomer. So a top seed and a bottom seed should’ve been paired up, and Daniel should’ve have had to advance all the way the final.

But of course it’s a movie, so Johnny needs to be waiting for him, like a final boss.

Have Mr. Miyagi be his personal bodyguard.