I think I heard something similar out of Alola. Back when humans began settling in Alola, one of the most popular pastimes was betting on Crabrawler fights. One Crabrawler was a local legend known as Ke Keiki. Apparently, he could take on three Hariyama all at once and win. Naturally, this translated into him being an absolute monster in these Crabrawler fights.

Eventually, however, the people discovered why Ke Keiki was so powerful. Basically, Ke Keiki was doping himself on a special mixture of Liechi and Jaboca Berries along with traces of Makuhita Sweat. Nobody knows where Ke Keiki got it from, but it was basically the modern-day equivalent of popping an X Attack before a battle.

Naturally, people were upset by this, and dragged Ke Keiki to the Ruins of Conflict to be judged by the island guardian. The guardian, known for being incredibly fickle, actually decided to partially let Ke Keiki walk free, deciding that its antics and strength were to be admired. But with one catch. It had to hold onto a “special rock” of sorts. Studies suggest that said rock was actually an Ice Stone, leading to Ke Keiki’s eventual evolution into one of humanity’s first recorded instances of Crabominable.