| “ | Listen to me. When the next tournament comes, remember what you saw here today. The people of Earth are not murderers. In respect of the Elder Gods and the laws of Mortal Kombat I choose mercy. | „ |
| ~ Great Kung Lao to Shang Tsung |
Great Kung Lao is one of the three overarching protagonists (alongside Elder Gods and Argus) of the Mortal Kombat franchise and the former archenemy of Shang Tsung. He is a mentioned character in the Mortal Kombat video-games, the 1995 and 2021 Mortal Kombat live-action films and the main protagonist of the 1998-99 TV Series Mortal Kombat: Conquest.
He is portrayed by Paolo Montalban, and briefly voiced by Sunil Malhotra.
Biography[]
Kung Lao was a highly skilled martial artist and a monk in the Order of Light as well as the protege of Thunder God and Protector of Earthrealm, Lord Raiden. He entered the Mortal Kombat in order to prevent it's conquest at the hands of Outworld Emperor Shao Kahn. He managed to defeat every opponent until he faced the reigning champion and Shao Kahn's right-hand man Shang Tsung. Kung Lao was initially at a disadvantage but managed to turn the tide and knocked Shang Tsung down. Shao Kahn told him to finish him but Kung Lao declined and showed mercy to his opponent. He was then welcomed as a hero on his homeland.
Conquest[]
Although the Earthrealm survived, Shang Tsung and Shao Kahn continued to plot in order to kill Kung Lao and remove a great threat for Outworld. Kung Lao made new friends such as the exiled bodyguard Siro and the former thief Taja. However, he also lost loved ones such as his girfriend Jan Reyland who was killed by Scorpion, a former friend of Kung Lao who was possessed by Shang Tsung and later Shao Kahn. Kung Lao would later make new powerful allies such as Princess Kitana but also new enemies such as Quan Chi, Queen Kreeya and others. He also owned a trading post in the city of Zhu Zin which previously belonged to Jan's father. Kung Lao was also recruiting and training new warriors to prepare them for the next tournament.
Fate[]
Kung Lao met his end in the next Mortal Kombat tournament where he faced off against the Prince of Shokan, Goro, Shang Tsung's new right-hand man and a type of enemy he had never seen before. After a fierce fight Kung Lao was killed and his soul was taken by his arch-nemesis Shang Tsung. Centuries later his legacy would be continued by his ancestor Kung Lao who would avenge him and defeat Shao Kahn, Shang Tsung and Goro multiple times. In Deception, after Shang Tsung's death, his soul was freed along with his many other victims.
New Era[]
After Fire God Liu Kang creates a New Era in Mortal Kombat 11, he visits Kung Lao as a monk. Kung Lao was polishing a statue at the forge in the Wu Shi Academy, before being greeted by Liu Kang. After introductions, Kung Lao shows deference to him, and Liu Kang noted how humble he was in comparison to the one he knew. He tells Kung Lao that he has been chosen as Earthrealm's champion, and must be trained in preparation. In Mortal Kombat 1, the Great Kung Lao is mentioned as having been Liu Kang's grandest champion. Given how there were no deaths in this version of the Mortal Kombat tournament, the Great Kung Lao did not die to Goro. Liu Kang also indicated that Earthrealm is not ready to know the full extent of his adventures.
Trivia[]
- The Great Kung Lao is presented as a ideal hero throughout the series; even Goro admitted in Mortal Kombat Gold that he was a great man, and worthy opponent.
- In the 1995 movie, Liu Kang is depicted as Kung Lao's descendant, which was decided by the film's producers. Series co-creator John Tobias later state that this led to confusion, and Liu Kang was never intended to be his descendant in the games.
- In the first episode of Conquest, he is seen wearing his descendant's MK3 costume.
- In Kung Lao's ending in Mortal Kombat 9, it is revealed that he is the reincarnation of his ancestor in order to redeem his failure. This was not brought up in the main storyline of the games, aside from an intro dialogue between Kung Lao and Shao Kahn.
