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The Great Kung Lao as seen in multiple MK endings

The Great Kung Lao is a character referenced in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series and featured in the TV show Mortal Kombat: Conquest. He is the ancestor of and has an outfit similar to the present-day Kung Lao, and the Shaolin monk Liu Kang, who follows his teachings. In Conquest, he is portrayed by Paolo Montalban. Conquest was not part of the canon storyline the Mortal Kombat games follow, but nevertheless was immensely popular among the fan community.

The Great Kung Lao as seen in Malibu's Kung Lao issue (left) and the official MK1 comic (right)

Kung Lao was raised in the Order of Light, a monastery of Shaolin monks. While he lived happily with his family and friends, Kung Lao prepared for his entire life to fight in Mortal Kombat. He was trained thoroughly under the monastery’s phenomenal martial artists, teaching him moves many would think impossible. All of Kung Lao's training made him undeniably the monastery’s best fighter. Being the first person on Earthrealm to represent the Order of Light in Mortal Kombat, he would do battle with the evil sorcerer and shapeshifter Shang Tsung (500 years before Liu Kang would do the same).

Despite Tsung having the advantage of winning nine consecutive Mortal Kombat tournaments, Kung Lao defeated him and became Grand Champion, saving Earthrealm in the process. While it is common for the victor to take his opponent's life, Kung Lao spared the sorcerer. As champion, Lao could not age. Fifty years later, he was defeated in Mortal Kombat by Goro, the Shokan prince. Afterwards, Kung Lao's soul was taken by Tsung, the now old man he spared half a century before.

Paolo Montalbán as Kung Lao in Mortal Kombat: Conquest

After becoming Grand Champion, the thunder god Raiden tells him that, because he was the last defending warrior of Earthrealm, Lao is now destined to train new warriors to compete against Shao Kahn's forces for the next Mortal Kombat. He initially rejects this responsibility because he desired to marry his girlfriend Jen, despite her father's refusal.

While this took place, Shang Tsung, who was now imprisoned in the Cobalt Mines by Shao Kahn after he failed to beat Kung Lao, sought his revenge and sends the undead warrior Scorpion to kill Kung Lao. This would be in conflict with the games as Scorpion lived and died only several years before the first Mortal Kombat game, 500 years later. Scorpion fails to defeat Kung Lao, but manages to kill Jen during the battle. After losing her, Kung Lao commits to training new warriors to defend Earthrealm and fight in Mortal Kombat when the time comes. He is joined by Jen’s bodyguard, Siro, and Taja, a thief who, with Raiden's persuasion, saved Kung Lao's life from Jen’s father.

Many fans debate whether Liu Kang or Kung Lao is The Great Kung Lao's descendant. Both have been stated to be his descendant on many occasions.

Liu Kang is said to be his descendant in

• Mortal Kombat the movie (this may be the reason for Kung Lao's absence from the movies)
• Mortal Kombat Trading Cards by Classic
• Mortal Kombat Kard Game
• Mortal Kombat 4 in Goro's bio

Kung Lao has been stated as his descendant in

• His Mortal Kombat II bio and ending
• His Mortal Kombat 3 ending
• His Mortal Kombat Gold bio and ending
• His Mortal Kombat: Armageddon ending

In Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, an ancestor for each of the two is shown. One resembles Kung Lao (with a hat similar to Raiden) and the other resembles Liu Kang.

Some fans believe the two might both be descendants and therefore distant cousins.