When all is said and done, who was stronger: Super Perfect Cell or SSJ2 Gohan?

[Ash57]

It baffles me that some of the users in this thread haven't been banned yet with the way they carry themselves. If they wanted to see an echo chamber with no dissenting opinions, they should have kept their opinions veiled.

Anyway, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, a video-game that is supposed to be canonical to the original manga and approved by Toriyama himself according to its lead designer, explicitly portrays Cell as stronger than an uninjured Gohan through multiple statements.

Right off the bat, Cell's infamous "I have powered up like Son Gohan" statement is changed in the original Japanese version of the game. Instead of saying that, Cell directly asserts that he has obtained power on par with Gohan's:

"Cell: I have a small mass inside of me...As long as it remains intact, my body can continue to restore itself...When I came back to life, my body had not only become perfect again, but also increased in power to rival Son Gohan..."

The game goes so far as to add an extra fight between uninjured Gohan and Cell, wherein Gohan powers-up and charges Cell, who meets him head-on, all while sustaining a rather confident and nonchalant smile.

Spoiler:

Once the fight actually starts, there are several moments of scripted dialogue that make it clear Cell was stronger, with Gohan repeatedly expressing his disbelief at Cell's power and being mocked for it at every turn:

Spoiler:

Context: Immediately as the fight starts
Gohan: I'll avenge my father..!
Cell: Don't you think it'll be easy for you this time around. With your current level of power, you won't be able to kill me...

Spoiler:

Context: After you fight him for a bit
Cell: That [just now] was an amusing attack, but it seems like your strength is [lower than what it was before]...No... I have just become too powerful for you, haven't I? Hehehe...
Gohan: N-no way...

Spoiler:

Context: After the halfway point of the fight
Gohan: Kuh...He's become [this much] stronger than when we fought before...?!
Cell: What do you think of it? The magnificent power I acquired after being reborn...

Spoiler:

Context: Near the end of the battle
Gohan: N-no...Father....
Cell: It doesn't look like you'll be able to avenge anyone after all, hehehe....

Spoiler:

Context: Near the end of the battle
Gohan: Cell's power has increased far more than I imagined....

Reminder that, once again, this is all taking place before Gohan gets injured.

[VegettoEX]

It baffles me that some of the users in this thread haven't been banned yet with the way they carry themselves. If they wanted to see an echo chamber with no dissenting opinions, they should have kept their opinions veiled.

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[Miracles]

It's right there in black and white; Why Cell was just as strong or stronger than Gohan. It was revealed later that Gohan was holding back. He wasn't cutting lose for the sake of the earth. When he finally did he vaporized Cell with one arm. Imagine if he did that with two.

[Grimlock]

Okay, taking into consideration that Gohan was holding back, how would you prove that if he was 100%, not injured in any way, he would have won against a non-distracted Cell? Because yes, when you get distracted, you stop paying full attention to something. In this case, I'm pretty sure when Cell got distracted by Vegeta, he stopped going all out in his attack.

Is there any evidence (not hint, not clue, evidence) that if we get rid of Vegeta shiny moment, the outcome would be exactly the same? I find it hard to believe it because, if that is the case, then I would question Toriyama's decision to include Vegeta in that moment. If Vegeta's attack is meant to be futile, why would Toriyama bother himself to draw that moment?

[Matches Malone]

Is there any evidence that if we get rid of Vegeta shiny moment, the outcome would be exactly the same?

It's the complete opposite, Gohan probably would've gotten killed had Vegeta not stepped in. I do think it's worth mentioning that Vegeta didn't hurt hm, but rather got his eyes of Gohan long enough to give him the opening he needed to win. This doesn't take anything away from Gohan or his achievement, but he definitely needed that small push from both Goku and Vegeta to get the job done.