Bioshock 2 timing probably helped, but I don't think Big Daddy actually overpowered there by much.
In 2010, Tifa indirectly gets 74.6% on Geno (unless you think Ness SFFd Geno).
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/poll/3791-jenova-division-round-1-ness-vs-geno
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/poll/3824-jenova-division-round-2-big-daddy-vs-ness
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/poll/3841-jenova-division-round-3-big-daddy-vs-tifa-lockheart
In 2018, Tifa got 73.19% on Geno directly.
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/poll/7290-division-7-round-1-tifa-vs-geno
Big Daddy was just one of many western characters that were decently strong when their series was fresh and recent, then fell off when people moved on. He was legit in 2010, and now he loses to Lloyd Irving.
People didn't put much stock in him cleanly beating Ness back then, but Ness is solid when he isn't getting crushed by the Nintendo hierarchy. For a more recent result, 2018 Ness was indirectly worth 38.6% on Bowser.
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/poll/7314-division-4-round-2-2b-vs-ness
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/poll/7340-division-4-semifinal-2b-vs-bowser
That was a lot of words, links, and numbers to make an argument about irrelevant midcarders.