10 Things You Didn't Know About Mortal Kombat

8. Jax Originally Designed As A Kickboxer Called 'Kurtis Stryker'

Mortal Kombat's mechanically enhanced hero Jax was originally conceptualized as a kickboxer called Curtis Stryker. This design was scrapped because it was too similar to characters that already existed in Street Fighter at the time, such as Balrog, Deejay and Sagat. Curtis Stryker was also set to make a debut in Mortal Kombat 1, in a slot that eventually went to Mortal Kombat's first female character Sonya Blade. Ed Boon felt that the game was in dire need of a female character, as at the time the roster was entirely male. This is why Jax debuted in Mortal Kombat 2 as Sonya's partner, as her position in the story as an agent for Earthrealm was originally planned to be Jax's role, until he was replaced. While Jax as a kickboxer was scrapped, the name was recycled and given to the police officer we know now as Stryker, who appeared in Mortal Kombat 3 and onwards. This redesign makes sense, as there were already enough pure martial artists like Kung Lao and Liu Kang in Mortal Kombat, where as Jax's character and military background gives a much needed contrast.