Warning: This article contains spoilers for Creed 3.
Creed III shares a lot of similarities with Rocky III, but one change that Adonis (Michael B. Jordan) makes in the capstone to the Creed trilogy helps him avoid one of Rocky Balboa's (Sylvester Stallone) biggest mistakes. Like The Italian Stallion, Donnie's success in the ring has given him a lifestyle that includes a large fabulous house in the LA hills, luxury cars, and endorsements from fashion brands. When Damian Anderson (Jonathan Majors), an old childhood friend, gets released from prison and looking to settle old scores in the ring, it throws into stark relief how much Adonis has to lose by defending the World Heavyweight Championship.
Along with the fame and wealth he's accumulated, Adonis has a beautiful daughter, and his priorities have changed a lot in the seven-year Creed 3 time jump. While he tries to help Dame get back on his feet after eighteen years behind bars, he realizes that they come from two very different worlds, and the disappointments and frustrations accrued from the men's shared history threaten to dismantle everything he's worked so hard to build, particularly a loving family. Fortunately, he doesn't follow in Rocky's footsteps who, despite being his mentor, eventually dropped his guard after his career hit its peak.
Donnie Doesn't Change After Becoming Champ In Creed 3 (Unlike Rocky)
Unlike Rocky in his third movie, Adonis doesn't let becoming the champ change him in Creed III despite the wealth and fame it brings. Whereas Rocky became complacent and lost his title to Clubber Lang (Mr. T) after becoming overly confident. He's first and foremost a family man who doesn't let his reputation go to his head. Creed III repeats a lot of Rocky III's story, particularly when Donnie's former adversary Viktor Drago helps him train like his father Apollo helped Rocky prepare for his new adversary, but it wisely sidesteps the issues around wealth and lifestyle.
Donnie might be more aware of his privilege after acknowledging Dame's experience in prison, but unlike Dame's assertion, Adonis hasn't "gone soft." After Dame orchestrates an attack on Viktor and eventually goads Donnie into a fight in the ring, Adonis has no problem coming out of retirement to accept his challenge. Becoming the champ made him focused on a means to an end where he could give his family everything they deserved for supporting him for so long.
Donnie's Wealth In Creed 3 Doesn't Control Him
Donnie controls his wealth rather than letting it control him. When Dame won't accept financial support, Donnie offers him his gym and equipment, as well as introduces him to influential people in the boxing industry. Even if Adonis isn't retiring after all, he's still using his privilege to help train the next generation of fighters as well as provide a comfortable life for his wife, adopted mother, and daughter. He also has a boots-on-the-ground approach that keeps him actively involved in everything that happens with the fighters he supports.
It's not lost on Adonis that he's living the life that Dame saw for himself if he hadn't gone to jail for protecting him in a childhood altercation. The guilt alienates him from those closest to him, but at no point does he think he's better than Dame, which only complicates their relationship as adults. By eschewing the simplistic storyline of Donnie resting on his laurels, Creed III doesn't take the easy narrative; wealthy or not, Adonis is still the person, the only difference is that in order to beat Dame, he'll have to forgive that person and not let shame hold him back.