'Cobra Kai' Fans Will Be Shocked to See This Villain Return in Season 5

The most dangerous Karate Kid villain is back—and ready for a face off!

The news came when Netflix recently released photos from Cobra Kai's fifth season, and we got a little more than we bargained for.

The new photos highlighted a variety of segments—including fight scenes, karate practices, and group events with some characters sporting a concerned look on their faces... 👀

But what really grabbed our attention was a photo of old Karate Kid III villain, Mike Barnes, looking ready to fight.

Karate Kid fans will remember Mike (played by Sean Kanan) as "Karate's Bad Boy" or the "Tournament Terror." He was notorious for winning more fights than he lost and essentially was hired by Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith) to fight Daniel (Ralph Macchio) and beat him at the All Valley Karate Tournament. With a load of altercations (both physical and verbal) between Barnes and Daniel before the tournament, Barnes became one of the main villains. The official battle eventually takes place, and Daniel defeats Barnes, ruining Silver's plans.

So, what could he be doing back at the dojo? We already know that other iconic villains, Terry ( Karate Kid III ) and Chozen Toguchi (Karate Kid II), have reprised their roles in the Cobra Kai cast for an epic battle. So, it'll be interesting to see how Barnes plays into all of this.

Kanan, the actor who first played Barnes in the 1989 Karate Kid movie confirmed his highly anticipated return on Instagram with the caption: “So excited to FINALLY announce that Mike Barnes will be a part of season 5! @healdrules @jonhurwitz & @McSchlossberg wrote me an awesome story. Can’t wait for you all to see it!”

For more first-look photos, fans can head to Netflix's companion site, Tudum, or check back on Instagram. Cobra Kai is expected to drop more intriguing photos and sneak peaks on Instagram each week as we head to the premiere on September 9!