Paul gives his Azumarill to a young boy.
This is the first time Ash has lost to the first Gym Leader of a region since he faced Brock in Nibi Gym Battle! (1997). This is also the first time that Ash has lost to a Gym Leader that doesn't use all of their Pokémon since facing Brock. In this case, Roark used only two of his three Pokémon.
Team Rocket doesn't blast off in this episode.
Ash battles Roark in his first Sinnoh Gym match and loses.