Warning: The following contains SPOILERS for the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie.
The world of Mortal Kombat is defining by fighting, and the 2021 film adaptation features a number of impressive fight scenes. Yet, the movie itself does not include a typical tournament structure, raising the question of whom the ultimate combatant was and how the many fights ended.
First released in arcades in 1992, Mortal Kombat was conceived as a tribute to the many martial arts movies based around the world's greatest warriors being gathered together for a once-in-a-generation tournament. Later games expanded the mythology, introducing the concepts of the Elder Gods and how they established the Mortal Kombat Tournament to prevent all-out war between the various dimensions making up the Six Realms. The rules of Mortal Kombat established that if the champion of one Realm could defeat the champions of another Realm in ten consecutive Mortal Kombat Tournaments, then the victors' Realm would earn the right to invade the other.
The 2021 film puts a spin on the classic formula, with the forces of the Mortal Kombat realm Outworld plotting to kill off the champions of Earth before the next Mortal Kombat Tournament can begin. They do this, despite having won the last nine tournaments between Outworld and Earthrealm, because of a prophecy which dictated that "a new group of champions will be united by the rise of Hanzo Hasashi's blood." This leads to the opening scene of the film and an effort to avert the prophecy by killing Hanzo Hasashi and his clan before Outworld formally challenged Earth in Mortal Kombat.
Bi-Han vs. Hanzo Hasashi
The Lin Kuei and Shirai Ryu were rival clans long before the days of Bi-Han and Hanzo Hasashi. However, that rivalry peaked in 1617, when Bi-Han of the Lin Kuei, a cryomancer (i.e. Sub-Zero's signature ice powers) of enormous power, led an effort to destroy the Shirai Ryu once and for all. The opening scene of Mortal Kombat depicts the final battle of Hanzo Hasashi, who managed to kill many Lin Kuei warriors before facing Bi-Han in single combat. Hasashi died a slow death, bleeding out from a chest wound inflicted by his own blade, as he crawled to answer the cries of his infant daughter, who had been hidden during the attack on his home.
Cole Young vs. Ramirez
The first scene set in modern day depicted a cage fight between Cole Young and another MMA fighter named Ramirez. The fight did not go well for Young, who was seen as washed-up and too old to fight anymore. His performance against Ramirez seemed to back up this assessment, with Young tapping out of the fight after being grappled into submission by the younger fighter.
Sub-Zero vs. Jax
After the cage fight, Cole Young and his family were attacked by Bi-Han, who had taken the name of Sub-Zero after acting as the champion of Outworld through nine Mortal Kombat tournaments. Jax, who had been observing Young during his fight, saved them from the assassination attempt and told Young to find Sonya Blade, before staying behind to fight Sub-Zero himself. Unfortunately, while Jax was an experienced soldier who survived six tours in the US Military, he was no match for Sub-Zero's magic and was left for dead after having his arms frozen solid and shattered. Thankfully, this was not the end for the stout-hearted soldier, as he was found by the followers of Raiden and healed with other-dimensional medicine.
Cole Young, Sonya Blade & Kano vs. Reptile
After seeing to the safety of his family, Cole Young sought out Sonya Blade, who told him of the history of Mortal Kombat and Earth's battle with Outworld. Sonya also explained how she and Jax had spent the last seven years trying to gather the Chosen Ones selected to represent Earth in the next tournament — but the only ones they had found alive were Cole Young and a mercenary called Kano, whom Sonya was holding captive in the lower level of her trailer. The reptilian being Syzoth (known better to Mortal Kombat fans as Reptile) was sent to kill all of them, but ultimately died after Kano ripped out the lizard-man's heart, taking advantage of a wound left in the creature's chest by Blade after she stabbed Reptile.
Sonya Blade vs. Kano
The rivalry between Sonya Blade and Kano is one of the fiercest in the history of the Mortal Kombat games. The 2021 movie establishes the same feud, but without the long history. Here, it is enough that Kano is a sexist, selfish jerk and Blade, as a career soldier dedicated to helping others, has little use for his attitude. The two came to blows on the journey to the Temple of Raiden when Kano told Sonya to go ahead and kill him if she thought she could. Sonya easily took Kano's own knife from him and pinned him to the ground while holding it to his throat after less than 15 seconds of fighting, but ultimately spared him having proven her point.
Sub-Zero vs. Liu Kang
The forces of Outworld tried once again to assassinate the Chosen Ones of Earthrealm after they arrive at the Temple of Raiden. Liu Kang attempted to defend the temple entrance against Sub-Zero, as he was clearing the way for the arrival of Shang Tsung. Unfortunately, Liu Kang's fire was not enough to counter the nine-time champion's ice and only the timely arrival of Kung Lao prevented the young monk from becoming Sub-Zero's next victim.
Goro vs. Cole Young
After leaving the Temple of Raiden, having been told that his continuing to train was pointless, Cole Young was attacked at his home by another otherworldly assassin; the four-armed dragon-man Goro. Prince of the Shokan people and a general in the armies of Outworld, Goro proved a daunting challenge. Thankfully, Cole Young rose to meet that challenge and finally found his Arcana, the special power born of his inner strength, which manifested as golden armor and weapons after his wife and daughter were endangered. Young ultimately prevailed, cutting off one of Goro's hands and slashing his torso open before finally putting a blade through Goro's eye.
Jax vs. Reiko
At the same time Cole Young was fighting to defend his family from Goro, the forces of Outworld entered into the Temple of Raiden, with the way having been opened by the traitorous Kano. This led to the heroes of Earth pairing off against and the otherworldly invaders. The first of these fights to be settled was between Jax and Reiko, a General of Outworld. A few hammer blows easily knocked out Jax, who was still struggling to master his new prosthetic arms.
Sonya Blade vs. Mileena
Sonya Blade pit herself against the assassin Mileena, matching her knives against Mileena's trademark sais. Mileena ultimately won the fight, after incapacitating Sonya with a strike through her shoulder. However, after tasting her blood and realizing Sonya was not a Chosen One, Mileena teleported away, refusing to finish Sonya off, telling her "Your death has no worth." Kano disagreed, and attempted to finish Sonya off by using his newfound laser eye to collapse a stone statue on top of her.
Liu Kang vs. Kabal
After being knocked out of the arena at the Temple of Raiden by a stray blow from General Reiko, Liu Kang found himself harried by the warrior Kabal. The fire-wielding monk held his own against the masked assassin. However, Kabal seemed to be more concerned with keeping Liu Kang away from his comrades than finishing him off. This was likely because Liu Kang was one of the few among Earth's champions who had found and mastered his Arcana at that time.
