Darth brings up an excellent point, one I hope Bleach doesn't start becoming true of...

DBZ died because they kept trying to "miraculously raise power levels" of characters and villains. It just got old after a time.

That's why when someone in a show declares a fight to the death, it should be to the mother-loving bitter death. Characters keep coming back and regain even greater strength and all that BS is stale man. It's a sword fight, cut the motherfucker's head off if you have to, but make sure he surely can't stab you in the back some day down the road!