Raditz is the most important character in Z

[SonGoku86]

Here's my theory: Without Raditz coming to earth, Goku wouldn't know he's a saiyan, Vegeta, Nappa, and Freeza wouldn't know about the Dragon Balls, thus, them not appearing. The Z-Fighters wouldn't need to go to Namek, another reason for no Freeza, No Vegeta means no Trunks. No Trunks means no one to warn the Z-Fighters about the Cyborgs. Cell would take over the world, then around the period of the Boo saga, Babidi would rule over Cell, and the earth would be a living hell.

[Herms]

And Raditz wouldn't even have come to Earth if he and the others didn't need help taking over that one planet. So I guess all of the Z-era really hinges on the Nameless Unusually Strong Aliens.

[Bussani]

If no one came back to warn them about the androids, that implies no time machine. No time machine means Cell wouldn't come back in time and take over the world. And since the Buu saga happens well before Cell's completion, I think it's likely that Buu would end up destroying the Earth before Cell even got a chance to exist.

Of course, just because Trunks doesn't exist doesn't necessarily mean Bulma wouldn't still build a time machine and send somebody. Herself, maybe. But there's no way of knowing about stuff like that.

[Toadster]

The androids would have taken over the world and killed most of the population, meaning there wouldn't be enough energy to revive Buu anyways.

[Bussani]

Hm, you're right of course. In other words, it would more or less become the Future Trunks timeline, but with Cell waking up and absorbing the androids without needing to go back in time. If there was no one interesting to fight, he'd probably blow up the world as a show of strength and go elsewhere.

[TheDevilsCorpse]

Just noting that Gero and all his creations could potentially end up much weaker than what we know. Goku didn't improve much between the 21st Budokai and when he should end up fighting Raditz. Since he wouldn't sacrifice himself and undergo Kaio's training, that means no massive power boost and no Kaio-ken. This could affect Gero's research data, causing him to make weaker Jinzoningen since Goku's lack of explosive boosts in power could make it seem like he'd reach the end up his potential. The Earthlings MIGHT be able to pull something off against much weaker opponents (19 and 20? May even luck out with not having to fight 17 and 18 without having to deal with Vegeta's cocky ass. lol).

[Fox666]

APPULE is the most important character. Without an assistant to call over the Ginyu Tokusentai and heal Vegeta, Goku wouldn't get a near-death power-up and wouldn't have enough power to fight Freeza.

[lash]

Here's my theory: Without Raditz coming to earth, Goku wouldn't know he's a saiyan, Vegeta, Nappa, and Freeza wouldn't know about the Dragon Balls, thus, them not appearing. The Z-Fighters wouldn't need to go to Namek, another reason for no Freeza, No Vegeta means no Trunks. No Trunks means no one to warn the Z-Fighters about the Cyborgs. Cell would take over the world, then around the period of the Boo saga, Babidi would rule over Cell, and the earth would be a living hell.

There would be no Vegeta, Nappa, and Freeza Cells to make Cell as potent as he was. The cyborgs likely rule the earth like Trunks' timeline me thinks.

[NeoKING]

Actually, it's Bardock's fault. If he could've kept a capsule on his banana instead of bussing some Saiya-girl's babboon cheecks raw, then Goku and his days-of-the-week-loving rock star of a brother wouldn't have even been conceived.

[djkalteraphine]

Actually, it's Bardock's fault. If he could've kept a capsule on his banana instead of bussing some Saiya-girl's babboon cheecks raw, then Goku and his days-of-the-week-loving rock star of a brother wouldn't have even been conceived.

You've solved the equation.

[Cipher]

The whole series is so ridiculously dependent upon dozens of coincidences that removing practically any character ultimately results in the destruction of the universe.

How's that?

[Pokewhiz7]

Without Gohan failing to properly watch Goku, Goku would take over the world.
Without Oolong, Pilaf could take over the world.
Without Roshi, Goku and Kuririn wouldn't get strong.
If Goku hadn't forgot his Nyoibou and four-star-ball Piccolo would probably take over the world.
Without Piccolo bragging about the Dragon Balls, Vegeta and Nappa wouldn't have came to Earth.
There's thousands of these.

[Gonstead]

There's so many alternate scenarios it can make your brain hurt trying to consider them all.

[Fin]

you can probably do this with pretty much any story.

[Rostir]

Without a certain character "this wouldn't have happened", you could literally place this on just about any important character.

[Ussj Future Trunks]

Well that's what DBM is about.

[Drayenko]

What about Lunch? Would... oh yes.

[Rostir]

What about Lunch? Would... oh yes.

What does this have to do with anything?

[Drayenko]

I thought Lunch was unimportant. then I remembered she saved everyone. I shouldn't have posted that, my bad.

[Hellspawn28]

No time machine means Cell wouldn't come back in time and take over the world.

But won't his baby form still exist in Dr. Gero's basement laboratory? #17 and #18 would have kill everyone and Cell would weak as hell, I would imagine that #17 & #18 would have killed him. Majin Buu would never came back due to lack of energy to revive him. GT would never happen since the Black Star Dragon Balls would not exist since Piccolo and Kami are not one, no Super 17 since Dr. Myu never met Goku and no Shadow Dragons since Kami would have likely died along with Piccolo from #17 or #18.

Without Gohan failing to properly watch Goku, Goku would take over the world.

If Goku never hit his head then I doubt he would be powerful as he would be since he never got the training from Roshi since he would be evil. I think Tao could have killed him off.