If you actually read the avatar arc you would know what happened in that fight, they're portrayed as equals in base at least.
On a side note, wasn't that DeS Gray who fought Natsu back in Avatar? They fought phisically, but they combined magic in their attacks ( Chapter 428, page 6, Natsu blocks Gray's punch, it ices Natsu's arm. Then Natsu kicks Gray and Gray tanks it. Flames come out of his leg).
He wasn't using DeS magic.
So, yeah, we could say, according to that chapter, DeS Gray = Base Natsu. Although that chapter proves pretty much nothing: no impressive feats from either, they were just warming up, etc.
Hence, they were portrayed as equal when neither were serious.
When we talk about superiority or inferiority, we don't mean in martial arts, we mean as a mague, as a whole, as in "what'd happen if they fought". Now can base gray or base gajeel one-shot Bluenote or a giant god? I don't think so.
Yes they can, Gajeel was albiet tangoing with a Spirggan and Gray should at least be Erza tier, current Erza would destroy both Bluenote and the Giant.
He was being overzealous. Personality matters in a battle. He wasn't so happy when Erza began to actually damage him. Hold on, Ajeel is superior to Erza, just in case you might have though I was implying the contrary. I'm just saying that, in analogy, Gajeel's fight is "similar".
Yes he was toying with Erza while acting cocky and was winning. Gajeel is pulling off a similar feat to Erza when he's in base....
Yes, that is correct. Gajeel might well be above Bradman as far as hand to hand combat goes, but how is that a factor? If his magic outclasses him, and they are magues, then Bradman is above Gajeel.
This part is ACTUALLY SO IRRELEVANT. I never once said Gajeel was overall on par with Bradman I was talking strictly physical combat.
Erza was at full power when she began to actually hurt Ajeel, that is, when she summoned the best counter armor against Ajeel (Wind armor + water sword). I'm willing to see how Steel-Shadow Gajeel can actually touch an intangible body. I'm also willing to see his DF, although I don't know how his DF would be an advantage to intangibility.
Erza was at full power from the start, Erza doesn't have any modes or whatever. It was shown iin the latest chapter Bradman's intang isn't passive and he can be hit if he doesn't expect it.
http://www.mangapanda.com/fairy-tail/486/5
Yes, Gajeel would definetely lose to Ajeel. As long as Gajeel has a human body. I mean, during their first encounter, DeS Gray, Stardress Lucy, base Natsu, base Erza, mest and Makarov had to run away from him. Then Erza fought him and was on the verge of losing, hadn't it been for Bisca. Ajeel is not a very powerful spriggan, but he's an extremely powerful wizard who vastly outclasses Gajeel (current feats). Maybe Steel-Shadow Gajeel could do something against Ajeel, but pull off a win? Let's remember not only does Ajeel dry you out to death, he's also intangible as far as you don't use water/wind.
No, he wouldn't. They all ran because Makarov ordered them to and insisted they couldn't beat Ajeel before actually seeing how strong they had gotten over the year time skip. Ajeel is very powerful that I know but he isn't unbeatable nor is he purely intangible to just water and wind or Natsu wouldn't have been able to hit him.