Ash Wins a Pokemon Leauge

[Bonsly]

but obviously it does. if the eighth movie has really any connection then of course Ash will mention it when he sees Lucario with Maylene. He should not act like he's seeing one for the first time....

Yes but at the same time it could be like when he saw Flannery's Torkoal. So far we know he movie does have a connection because of Ash's aura ability. If you read my other post you would have seen what I said about the aura. But to what extent the connection goes to we will have to wait and see.