10 Mortal Kombat Theories That MIGHT Actually Be TRUE

10 Mortal Kombat Theories That Might Actually Be True

Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re looking at some of the more fascinating fan theories surrounding the “Mortal Kombat” series!

Onaga is the Next Villain

We’ll start things off with a fairly safe one, and a theory about the next game. After playing key roles in “Deception” and “Armageddon,” the Dragon King, Onaga, has only made minor cameos for the nearly two decades since. However, in “Mortal Kombat 1,” he made a brief but important appearance, at the end of Reiko's Tower. With Liu’ Kang’s new timeline, this tease has a lot of people guessing that the devs are going to try and bring the villain back in a big way. And with so many recent storylines focusing on the classic big bads like Shao Kahn and Shang Tsung, it would be cool to see the Dragon King return.

A Hint of Kronika

Although she’s far from anyone’s favorite “Mortal Kombat” character, Kronika nonetheless plays a vital role in the series as the former Keeper of Time. She was only introduced in 2019, but her role naturally had people speculating that she was always pulling the strings from behind-the-scenes, manipulating events to create her perfect timeline. There’s a lot of believability to this theory because of Kronika’s power, but some players have found ways to back it up, such as Kai’s ending in “Armageddon.” While meditating, he connects to the One Being, allowing his mind to wander between realms. But when he looks to the future, he sees nothing, perhaps now retroactively due to the universe reset in 2011, which is easy to tie to Kronika with this theory.

Geras Was the Original Keeper of Time

Speaking of Keepers of Time, there’s a strong theory that claims there’s more to Geras than meets the eye. Also introduced in “MK 11,” he was built by Kronika as an immortal construct to act as her messenger and enforcer, with every one of his deaths increasing his durability. But according to some, he was actually rebuilt by Kronika. Going even further, the original Geras was the Keeper of Time before her, usurped, killed, and recreated as a twisted joke. There is mention of a Timekeeper before Kronika. And she never allowed Geras to look after the Hourglass, unlike Liu Kang after he rebuilt him, adding credence to the theory.

Shao Kahn Was Once a Hero

Okay, maybe ‘hero’ is a strong word. It’s hard to believe that the staggering giant of a general, who has been tormenting us for decades, is anything other than a horrible monster. Still, some fans seek reasoning behind his villainy. He’s been described as a protector of Outworld in the past, holding a similar responsibility to Raiden. So, it isn’t outside the realm of possibility that he once held good intentions, but through some pretty barbaric acts, lost his way. Even after the “Mortal Kombat 1” reset, he’s first shown to be fairly antagonistic with a smaller seat of power, but still with his ultimate goal being what he believes to be the best for Outworld.

Liu Kang’s Destiny

As a Shaolin Monk, Liu Kang came from humble beginnings. But there are some who believe he was always destined for something more. In fact, divinity was always what was in store for him. It’s another easier one to back up. Liu Kang has been at the center of every important plot line since the beginning of the series. Apparently, each hardship and death was an important step in becoming a God. However, what exactly has been steering him towards this repeated role, before eventually reaching godhood, be it fate or some other unseen force, is up to you.

Fated Rivalries

Liu Kang isn’t the only example of destiny in the series. Across “Mortal Kombat,” even though all the heroes hate all the villains, there seem to be specific rivalries that are maintained across timeline resets, no matter what. Although, who or what is maintaining these fated rivalries is a mystery. Sonya vs. Kano. Raiden vs. Shao Kahn. Liu Kang. vs. Shang Tsung. Hell, even in “Mortal Kombat 1,” they still found a way to pit Sub-Zero against Scorpion, despite them being brothers, and the latter not being Hanzo Hasashi, in this timeline. And even though that game left Kitana and Mileena on relatively good terms, Pattern would dictate that they’ll be pinned against each other soon. Or, better yet, bring back D’vorah, reignite that rivalry, and let Mileena kill her this time to give justice to all her fans.

Drahmin is King Jerrod

This one’s an oldie but goody, and admittedly takes a little suspension of disbelief. Drahmin debuted in 2002’s “Deadly Alliance,” as an Oni from Netherrealm who was freed by Quan Chi on the promise that he would defend him from Scorpion. His backstory referred to him as a vicious warlord from Outworld, condemned to burn in what is basically “Mortal Kombat’s” Hell for centuries until he was freed. Although the connection is a little thin, a theory did spread back in the day that Drahmin was really the Oni form of King Jerrod, Sindel’s former husband who was overthrown and killed by Shao Kahn. This event did happen centuries before the original games. With few other appearances, it hasn’t been that popular of a theory for some time. But it’s still fun to imagine an alternate history with this version of Jerrod.

Frost is Sub-Zero’s Sister

Another classic theory, and one that holds a lot of water. Also introduced in “Deadly Alliance,” it was easy to form a connection between Frost and Sub-Zero given their similar power sets. Her background described her as a mysterious female, who appeared out of nowhere to win a Lin Kuei recruitment tournament. In the games, she’s usually his former impatient apprentice, who challenges him over his rule. Given how rare cryomancy is, which is why he chooses to train her in the first place, and her mysterious background, some players believe her to be his long-lost sister. Moreover, the official website of “Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero,” mentions Bi-Han and Kuai Liang having a sister they haven’t seen since childhood. It’s never been officially confirmed. In “Deadly Alliance,” Sub-Zero believes he and Frost are descendants of the same race, but that could always be retconned in Liu Kang’s new timeline.

The Elder Gods Are Evil

The Elder Gods are arguably one of the more inconsistent pieces of “Mortal Kombat” lore. Their inaction and indifference has led to a widespread belief that they are the true villains of the series, trying to keep everything in chaos for their own benefit. It’s said they waged war against the One Being long ago, causing their adversary to split into the different Realms. And to keep them separate, the Elder Gods set up a sadistic fighting tournament to keep everyone in check. Evidence of their neglect can be seen throughout the series. When Shao Kahn continuously wins in an effort to merge the realms, they don’t do anything until the last second. And Shinnok, one of their own, is easily able to surprise-attack Earthrealm without them doing anything. Sometimes, they’re downright immoral for no reason; in a previous timeline, they promised to resurrect Scorpion’s clan, only to return them as the undead.

Johnny Cage’s Legacy

Let’s end on a fun one. A long-running meta theory claims that every “Mortal Kombat” story is really a movie directed by moviestar-turned-Earthrealm defender, Johnny Cage. Hey, it would explain how he usually gets a happy ending. Some even theorize that certain slumps throughout the series were just natural results that come with being an artist. The crossover with the DC Universe, and the DLC characters of more recent games? That’s just strengthening the brand. Universe resets? A way to keep things fresh. Funnily enough, this was actually, sort-of addressed in “Mortal Kombat 1.” In his Tower Ending, Johnny Cage is entrusted with informing the wider public of Earthrealm about the existence of Outworld. And he chooses to do so by building a multimedia empire.

What are some of your head canons about the “Mortal Kombat” series? Share your favorites in the comments, and we’ll see you next time!