A new leak of Pokémon Diamond & Pearl has made its way online and a fresh secret regarding the fourth generation of games has been uncovered, as Red from Pokémon Red & Blue appears as a judge in Sinnoh.
Red is the protagonist of Pokémon Red & Blue, and he also inspired the Pokémon Trainer character in the Super Smash Bros. series. Red became playable again in the remakes of Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen, but his most famous appearances have been as an endgame foe. One of the most memorable battles in the Pokémon series involves the climactic showdown with Red in Pokémon Gold & Silver, as well as in Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver. Red could also be battled in Pokémon Black 2 & White 2, as well as in Pokémon Sun & Moon, Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon,
and the Let's Go! games.
Red never made an official appearance in Gen IV, but it seems that he was once planned to have a cameo. A new beta of Pokémon Diamond & Pearl has leaked online and it predates the recent one filled with early sprites. According to Lewchube on Twitter, Red was planned to be a contest judge in the game, using his Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen design.
Pokémon Contests were introduced in Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire as an alternate competition for those who wanted more content outside of battling. Ash's female companies (May & Dawn) during the Hoenn & Sinnoh years of the anime were motivated by their desire to compete in contests. The Pokémon Contests briefly made a comeback in Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, but haven't been seen since. In Pokémon Diamond & Pearl, the contests were expanded and renamed Pokémon Super Contents. It's possible that they could make a return in the rumored remakes of Pokémon Diamond & Pearl.
It's likely that Red's sprite was used as a placeholder, as the beta is filled with instances of incomplete designs and reused assets. It's a shame that Red seemingly has no battle data in Pokémon Diamond & Pearl, as he would be a terrible judge, considering the fact that he never speaks.
Source: Lewchube/Twitter