History HilariousInHindsight / MortalKombat

* "Kreate A Fighter" mode is this, especially with ''VideoGame/MortalKombat11'' displaying what happens when both the original and new timelines divert... and merge. So we have OT!Scorpion fighting against either his new timeline self, or any of the characters who only appeared in the new timeline.

* Kenshi's unlockable alternate costume in this game is an obvious homage to ''Franchise/StreetFighter's'' Ryu. Both Kenshi and Ryu have been portrayed by Creator/DanSouthworth in ''WebVideo/MortalKombatLegacy'' and the fan film ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGqCxxkqfog Street Fighter x Tekken: The Devil Within]]''.

* Kenshi became a BlindWeaponmaster because he lost his sight after being deceived by Shang Tsung. Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, who has famously portrayed Shang Tsung across the franchise, would years later be part of the cast of ''WesternAnimation/BlueEyeSamurai'' as the Swordfather, a famous swordsmith and mentor to the titular protagonist...and who happens to be blind.

* In his arcade ending, Raiden flies into the sky in the classic Franchise/{{Superman}} pose. [[VideoGame/MortalKombatVsDCUniverse Eleven years later]], Raiden not only gets to fight Superman himself, but the two are rivals. [[VideoGame/{{Injustice2}} Twice]].

* In this game, Smoke is voiced by Creator/YuriLowenthal who also voiced Franchise/SpiderMan in [[VideoGame/SpiderManPS4 the Insomniac games]]. Then it was revealed that not only would [[ComicBook/{{Invincible}} Omni-Man]] be a guest character, but Creator/JKSimmons would also be voicing him just like he did in the [[WesternAnimation/Invincible2021 animated adaptation]] of the ''Invincible'' comic. In short, we have a ''Mortal Kombat'' game where Spider-Man can fight J. Jonah Jameson.

* This isn't the first time that characters fight themselves in the story of a [[VideoGame/InjusticeGodsAmongUs game]] created by [=NetherRealm=] Studios. Doubly hilarious considering that the way the story mode works in ''Injustice'' is the same as ''Mortal Kombat''.

** Similarly, this won't be the first time Creator/YuriLowenthal goes against someone who can turn into a Lizard.
** On a related note, Yuri [[CastingGag once again]] plays [[Franchise/{{Naruto}} a member of a trio of ninjas]]. Except he uses "practical magic" instead of elemental powers, was adopted into the Lin Kuei instead of being born into it like Bi-Han and Kuai Liang, and [[spoiler: joins Scorpion in forming the New Era version of the Shirai Ryu, instead of remaining after Bi-Han's betrayal]]. Sounds like a far cry from [[StarMakingRole Sasuke Uchiha]].

* The Malibu comics portrayed Baraka as a stereotypical low-intelligence brute complete with HulkSpeak. Later games showed him far more well spoken and calculating than that, with ''Mortal Kombat 11'' showing he's open to negotiation at times, and his latest iteration in ''MortalKombat 1'' once being a skilled merchant and tribune. Even in the latter after his mutation, he remains highly intelligent and rueful, if no less beastly in battle.

* One of Quan Chi's female servants is played by Jamie Presley. Presley would later star as Tina Armstrong in ''Film/DOADeadOrAlive'', in which fellow ''Mortal Kombat'' alumnus Robin Shou had a minor role who antagonizes Tina. For extra hilarity, Presley's character in ''Conquest'' was an enemy of the Great Kung Lao and her first scene in ''DOA'' has her beating up the guy who played the Great Kung Lao's descendant in the movies.
* An episode called "Unholy Alliance" deals with a partnership formed between Shang Tsung and Quan Chi. In just a few years [[VideoGame/MortalKombatDeadlyAlliance and the games would try something just as deadly.]]

* The Sub-Zero/Smoke episode, three-fold:

* The Sub-Zero seen for most of the comic series is Bi-Han, the Elder Sub-Zero brother. Considering that almost every other media based off of Mortal Kombat has Bi-Han dying during the first tournament and becoming Noob Saibot and his younger brother Kuai Liang taking up the mantle, it becomes quite funny that this media saw fit to keep Bi-Han alive for far longer, even letting him [[DyingMomentOfAwesome save the day at the end of ''Tournament Edition II'']]. Add to the fact that Noob Saibot appears in this as a wholly separate, almost heroic-aligned character from Bi-Han and...
* One plot point in the ''Battlewave'' comics have an anti-Shao Kahn alliance consisting of Kitana, Kung Lao, Sub-Zero (Bi-Han) and ''Baraka'' of all people. Considering that Baraka is a violent, short tempered mutant, its surprising he'd work with the likes of Kitana against Shao in any MK media. Then came the story of ''VideoGame/MortalKombat11'' where Kitana is able to win Baraka's allegiance, becoming part of her army when she topples Shao Kahn, and wouldn't you know it, her alliance includes Sub-Zero (Kuai Liang in this case) and Kung Lao, too.

** On a related note, Yuri [[CastingGag once again]] plays a [[Franchise/{{Naruto}} a member of a trio of ninjas]]. Except he uses "practical magic" instead of elemental powers, was adopted into the Lin Kuei instead of being born into it like Bi-Han and Kuai Liang, and [[spoiler: joins Scorpion in forming the New Era version of the Shirai Ryu, instead of remaining after Bi-Han's betrayal.]] Sounds like a far cry from [[StarMakingRole Sasuke Uchiha]].

** On a related note, Yuri [[CastingGag once again]] plays a [[Franchise/Naruto a member of a trio of ninjas]]. Except he uses "practical magic" instead of elemental powers, was adopted into the Lin Kuei instead of being born into it like Bi-Han and Kuai Liang, and [[spoiler: joins Scorpion in forming the New Era version of the Shirai Ryu, instead of remaining after Bi-Han's betrayal.]] Sounds like a far cry from [[StarMakingRole Sasuke Uchiha]].

* Kronika's sneer at Shang Tsung in ''Aftermath'' ("You have no one left to betray.")? [[spoiler: As it turns out in ''Mortal Kombat 1'', Shang Tsung is so treacherous he's not above ''betraying [[AlternateSelf himself]]!]]

** On a related note, Yuri [[Franchise/Naruto once again]] playing one of a trio of ninjas. Except he uses "practical magic" instead of elemental powers, was adopted into the Lin Kuei instead of being born into it like Bi-Han and Kuai Liang, and [[spoiler: joins Scorpion in forming the New Era version of the Shirai Ryu, instead of remaining after Bi-Han's betrayal.]] [[CastingGag Seems like a far cry]] from [[StarMakingRole Sasuke Uchiha]].