History ShoutOut / MortalKombat

*** [[{{Archer}} Phrasing.]]

** His self-destruct fatality has him typing some kind of sequence in a panel in his pulse, like the Predator himself.
** They also use [[StarWars lightsabers]] in the [=PS2=] games: A blue/green (in ''Armageddon'') one for Cyrax, and two red ones for Sektor.
*** Cyrax actually used that weapon back in ''4'', but then it was known as a "Sabre of Light". They were renamed to Pulse Blades in ''Armageddon''. [[YouWannaGetSued Subtle,]] [[SarcasmMode right?]]

* '''Rain''''s costume is ''purple'', there's also his name, and [=~Mortal Kombat: Armageddon~=] reveals that he's [[spoiler:a {{Prince}}]]. Just think about it.

** In the official Mortal Kombat comic book, Scorpion grabs Sub-Zero and tells him to look into his eyes. This is an even clearer reference to Ghost Rider and his Penance Stare power.
** After defeating Scorpion in ''Shaolin Monks'', Scorpion gets dragged into the lava by skeletons. As his arm goes in, he gives the player a thumbs up. This is reference to Terminator 2 ending, in which the T-800(Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger) gives John a thumbs up before he gets engulfed by molten metal.

* '''Cyrax''' and '''Sektor''' seems to be ripped right out of {{Predator}}
** His/It's self-destruct fatality has him typing some kind of sequence in a panel in his pulse, like the Predator himself.
** They also use [[StarWars lightsabers]] in the [=PS2=] games: A blue/green (in Armageddon) one for Cyrax, and two red ones for Sektor.

** His second Fatality in ''MortalKombat9'' has him transform into a clown who uses a prop gun to surprise his opponent... then use said gun to blow off his head. Just like TheJoker's Fatality from ''MortalKombatVsDCUniverse'', except now with that pesky T rating [[TakeThat out of the way]]...

** In addition to this, his character trailer uses Ermac as his tag-team partner. This is very reminiscent of their relationship in ''[[Film/MortalKombat Annihilation]]'', wherein Noob was a shadow-like copy spawned by Ermac.

%%Unless is something related to the game itself, Kratos or Lady In Red, don't add the MK9 section here.

* In the first game, '''Shang Tsung''' greatly resembles [[BigTroubleInLittleChina Lo Pan]]. He later has a Friendship in ''MortalKombat3'' where he transforms into the player character from ''{{Joust}}''.
** His second Fatality in ''MortalKombat9'' has him transform into a clown who uses a prop gun to surprise his opponent... then use said gun to blow off his head. Just like TheJoker 's Fatality from ''MortalKombatVsDCUniverse'', except now with that pesky T rating [[TakeThat out of the way]]...

!Characters and stuff introduced in [[MortalKombat9 Mortal Kombat (2011)]]
* Noob Saibot's moveset now include [[{{Naruto}} shadow-like clones]] of himself. In addition to this, his character trailer uses Ermac as his tag-team partner. This is very reminiscent of their relationship in ''Annihilation'', wherein Noob was a shadow-like copy spawned by Ermac.
* Shang Tsung's "Bang Bang" fatality is a TakeThat to the censored Joker fatality in MortalKombatVsDCUniverse, this time showing the head getting shot instead of pulling away to get the T rating.

* Noob Saibot's moveset now include [[Naruto shadow-like clones]] of himself. In addition to this, his character trailer uses Ermac as his tag-team partner. This is very reminiscent of their relationship in ''Annihilation''.

* Green Lantern's ending has the ''Armageddon'' pyramid.

** In the earlier games, Johnny Cage bore the likeness of NicolasCage. His real name was even Jonathan Carlton, just to twist the knife further.

** His second Fatality sees him transform into a clown who uses a prop gun to surprise his opponent... then use said gun to blow off his head. Just like TheJoker 's Fatality from ''MortalKombatVsDCUniverse'', except now with that pesky T rating [[TakeThat out of the way]]...

* '''Li Mei''' might very well have started her carreer as an {{Expy}} of Mileena, whit her general appearance, uses of Sais as weapons, and color scheme. Starting whit the next game Li Mei was revisited quite a bit, and now has a notable smaller physique, uses a sword instead of Sais, and wears a suit of armor in battle.
** One of Li Mei's fatalities in ''[=~Mortal Kombat: Deception~=]'' mirrors one of ''UltimateMortalKombat3'''s Brutalities. Let's just say that [[FistOfTheNorthStar her opponent is already dead]].
* '''Nitara''''s character design is a tribute to Vincent Valentine from the Final Fantasy series.
** Also, many of Nitara's Konquest mode messages in ''Deadly Alliance'' make reference to different rock bands and songs performed by them. What's more, her alternate costume surely brings to mind {{KISS}}...

--> Joker: KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHN!

--> Deathstroke: Shut up, or I'll gut you.
* And in '''WonderWoman''''s ending, she carries a dagger very reminiscent of Ashrah's one, and a shield which resembles the logo of ''[=~Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance~=]''.

** After defeating Scorpion in Shaolin Monks, Scorpion gets dragged into the lava by skeletons. As his arm goes in, he gives the player a thumbs up. This is reference to Terminator 2 ending, in which the T-800(Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger) gives John a thumbs up before he gets engulfed by molten metal.

!Characters and stuff introduced in 2011's [[MortalKombat9 Mortal Kombat]]
* Shang Tsung's second Fatality sees him transform into a clown who uses a prop gun to surprise his opponent... then use said gun to blow off his head. Just like TheJoker 's Fatality from ''MortalKombatVsDCUniverse'', except now with that pesky T rating [[TakeThat out of the way]]...

!Characters and stuff introduced in Game/MortalKombat9

** One of Shang Tsung's Fatalities in [[MortalKombat9 the new game]] sees him transform into a clown who uses a prop gun to surprise his opponent... then use said gun to blow off his head. Just like TheJoker 's Fatality from ''MortalKombatVsDCUniverse'', except now with that pesky T rating out of the way...

* Shang Tsung's second Fatality: [[spoiler:he transforms into a clown, then startles his opponent with a toy gun that shoots a little flag that reads "BANG!". He then pulls out a real gun and blows his opponent's brains out. This is TheJoker's Fatality from MKvsDCU verbatim, except without that pesky T-rating to muck things up.]]

* Shang Tsung's second Fatality: [spoiler:he transforms into a clown, then startles his opponent with a toy gun that shoots a little flag that reads "BANG!". He then pulls out a real gun and blows his opponent's brains out. This is TheJoker's Fatality from MKvsDCU verbatim, except without that pesky T-rating to muck things up.]]

* '''Darrius''''s alternate costume is basically Black Belt Jones with CoolShades. His backstory also has shades of [[TheMatrix Morpheus]].

* '''Scorpion''''s blazing skull can be seen as a homage to Ghost Rider. This comes in full circle in the Ghost Rider movie, when Ghost Rider, while atop a skyscraper, uses a chain to grab a helicopter and pull it toward him while yelling "COME HERE!".

** In ''[=~Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance~=]'', apparently, he was a contestant in SmashTV.

** Several limited edition versions of ''[=~Mortal Kombat: Armageddon~=]'' shipped with different metallic covers, with one of them being Goro Vs Cage.
** And finally, in ''[=~Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks~=]'', in the fight between Liu Kang, Kung Lao, and Goro, Johnny intervenes and finishes off Goro, mirroring his rivalry with him.

* In the first game, '''Shanh Tsung''' greatly resembles [[BigTroubleInLittleChina Lo Pan]]. He later has a Friendship in ''MortalKombat3'' where he transforms into the player character from ''{{Joust}}''.

* '''Kung Lao''''s weaponized hat gimmick was likely inspired by [[JamesBond Bond]]'s famous villian [[{{Goldfinger}} Oddjob]].

* One of '''Li-Mei''''s fatalities in ''[=~Mortal Kombat: Deception~=]'' mirrors one of ''UltimateMortalKombat3'''s Brutalities. Let's just say that [[FistOfTheNorthStar her opponent is already dead]].

* '''Shang Tsung''' has a Friendship in ''MortalKombat3'' where he transforms into the player character from ''{{Joust}}''.

** Cyrax's self-destruct fatality has him typing some kind of sequence in a panel in his pulse, like the Predator himself.
** Cyrax and Sektor also use [[StarWars lightsabers]] in the [=PS2=] games: A blue/green (in Armageddon) one for Cyrax, and two red ones for Sektor.

* '''Sonya''' is inspired by the karate champion and movie actress Cynthia Rothrock.

* And in '''WonderWoman''''s ending, she carries a dagger very reminiscent of Kira's one, and a shield which resembles the logo of ''[=~Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance~=]''.

* One of '''Li-Mei''''s fatalities in ''[=~Mortal Kombat: Deception~=]'' mirrors one of ''UltimateMortalKombat3'''s Brutalities.

** Cyrax and Sektor also use lightsabers in the [=PS2=] games: One blue/green in Armageddon one for Cyrax, and two red ones for Sektor.
* '''Rain''''s costume is ''purple'', there's also his name, and [=~Mortal Kombat: Armageddon~=] reveals that [[spoiler:he's a {{prince}}]]. Just think about it.

** Cyrax and Sektor also use lightsabers in the [=PS2=] games: One green one for Cyrax, and one blue one for Sektor.