Great Kung Lao had won the 10th tournament of Mortal Kombat 100 hundred years ago. But he lost and died in the Grand Mortal Kombat, in which Earthrealm also lost. In fact in the 10th Mortal Kombat tournament his master Shang Tsung was supposed to represent Earthrealm, but when he had dissappeared, Kung Lao had taken his place.
In the grand tournament, Kung Lao confronted the Prince Goro of Shokans who brutally defeated and killed him.