Social media loves to pit two characters from unrelated franchises against each other (known as "powerscaling") and lately, people have been obsessed with a matchup between Super Mario Bros. enemy Thwomp and Sonic the Hedgehog character Infinite.

Discourse about the characters went viral after the YouTube series "Death Battle" published its Bowser vs. Eggman video, which features an unexpected scene in which Infinite is crushed by Thwomp.

So, what do fans of each respective franchise think of the moment and why has it become such a big meme? Here's what you need to know.

What Is The 'Infinite Crushed by Thwomp' Meme?

In mid-November 2024, the YouTube series Death Battle, which imagines through animation how two fictional characters from different franchises might fair in battle, posted an episode where Bowser and his minions square off against Dr. Eggman and his minions. The video was a huge success, gaining over 1.5 million views in only two days.

At one point in the episode, Dr. Eggman sends Infinite, a boss enemy from Sonic Forces, to attack Bowser. For those who don't know, Infinite's main power is that he can alter gravity. He's been the subject of memes in the Sonic fandom for years, especially due to a scene in the game where he rants about never wanting to be considered weak.

Shortly after Infinite is summoned, King Boo summons a Thwomp, essentially a massive concrete block with a face, to crush Infinite. The plan works flawlessly and within seconds, Infinite is defeated, sparking a wave of discourse across social media.

How Is 'Infinite Crushed by Thwomp' Used In Memes?

The episode became a huge topic of discussion on Reddit and X after the video's release, with most people talking about the Thwomp vs. Infinite moment. Most people seem to agree that the scene is simply funny, considering how easily Infinite is taken out. The scene really makes Infinite seem like a weakling, which is the one thing she definitely doesn't want to be known as.

This inspired tons of memes showing Thwomp, a basic enemy you might underestimate from a first glance, crushing Infinite. It also inspired discussions about how realistic the scene is. One YouTube commenter even offered a logical explanation for Thwomp's win, writing that Infinite was increasing gravity in the animation, thus making Thwomp heavier and his crush far more impactful.

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For the full history of Thwomp Crushing Infinite, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.