In the wild, eventual death from something as simple as an infection, or starving due to a temporary illness/injury preventing being able to catch prey for a few days, is a reality.
Think about how a giant human, who could easily crush a wasp, tends to act when there’s a wasp around.
There is a subconscious cost/benefit ratio calculation… and the fear of pain/no gain tends to result in fleeing the wasp, and not fearlessly attacking it.
If there IS gain, say, they are ruining your picnic/they might sting your kids, etc… THEN you might attack the wasp, but, typically, with can of wasp spray, or a weapon of some type, and not a mano a mano. (a waspo?)
A lion, if hungy enough, might actually say effit, and eat a honey badger… as the gain outweighs the potential pain/injury.
😀
So, yes, its typically not worth it to try to eat a honey badger, as it will probably at least bite you at least once before you crush its spine/skull/snap its neck, or whatever your kill move is.
But, a predator will go for it, and win, if they are hungry enough.