Many kombantants have graced the many realms of the Mortal Kombat mythos. However, amidst the most terrifying and horrific themes that the series is known for, there is one individual that we would love to have a beer and crack jokes with. His name is Johnny Cage, the movie star turned defender of Earthrealm has been a staple of the franchise for a very long time.
Appearing in the first Mortal Kombat game, Johnny Cage is one of the most iconic and outspoken fighters on the roster, garnishing a comedic and charismatic personality to a game rich with gory and violent dismemberment through the years. This demeanor has always stayed true to the character even though his remarkable character development from self-centered actor to superhero dad inspiring a new breed of heroes of Earthrealm. But, when the going gets tough, Cage knows how to bring the action in a very gruesome, off-script manner. Let’s take a look at his best fatalities. We are excluding brutalities, babalities, friendships, animalities, and stage fatalities for this list.
12 Mortal Kombat: Deadly Uppercut
Johnny Cage’s go-to fatality and most iconic to his arsenal. Deadly Uppercut is quick to the point without much flare or flashiness. Given the fact that this is 1992 and technology wasn’t as mind-blowing as it is today, watching this in arcades across America raised a few eyebrows amongst parents.
The fatality was brought back in several installments from Mortal Kombat II, Mortal Kombat Trilogy, Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, and more. As iconic and impactful as it, it’s not the coolest fatality we have seen Johnny performed over the years, so it stands as the lowest on the list.
11 Mortal Kombat II: Torso Rip
Another usual fatality from Johnny Cage, the Torso Rip adds a little flair to Johnny’s fatality game. Johnny adds his definition of “cutting down the middle” by ripping the top upper half of the individual and slamming them on the ground, while the lower half is still intact.
This fatality was first showcased in Mortal Kombat II and brought back in Mortal Kombat 4 (added with a twist) and Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks. Who knew Johnny was such a big fan of division?
10 Mortal Kombat: Trilogy: Super Shadow Kick
A fatality exclusive to the Nintendo 64 version of Mortal Kombat: Trilogy, this is another straight to the point finisher. Very remanence to Cassie Cage’s first part of her “I <3 U” fatality of Mortal Kombat 11. Johnny takes a similar approach with his shadow kick, but instead of kicking the heart out, he kicks – well a chunk of the lower half. This leaves the top torso to drop down to the remaining legs of the victim. Hilariously due to the animation at the time the arms from the leftover half stay completely in place.
9 Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance: Brain Rip
Brain Rip is a simple and effective fatality Johnny has to offer. Starting with a swift karate chop to the stomach and shaking and winding up his balled-up fist and punching the inside of the opponent’s skull. Johnny demonstrates the idea of separating the mind from the body – literally, by ripping apart the victim’s brain from their skull, as the victim screams in agony.
This brutal act was on full display in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance as the opponent is left a bloody mess and begs the question, “Who really has the brains here…hmm?”
8 Mortal Kombat: Trilogy: Backbreaker
This fatality is described in the title. Usually seeing Johnny take the top half of the opponent, Johnny takes the whole body of the opponent above his head while the victim does their best planking impression before unlicensed chiropractor Johnny Cage performs his back-breaking maneuver. However, instead of just breaking just back with Johnny’s quick flex of his shoulders, he obliterated them into many pieces of leftover bones.
We know somewhere Bane is taking notes or wishing he would have hired Johnny to break or in this case destroy the Batman, had he knew the brutality of this finisher.
7 Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks: Punching Bag
For anyone reading, have ever seen the scene from the cool, but terrible Mortal Kombat movie, where Johnny Cage punched Goro in a very sensitive area? Well, it’s on full display in Johnny’s fatality on Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks.
Instead of one groin punch (which would down many of men), you have multiple groin punches while Cage taunts you and displays his best Mohammed Ali speed bag impression. The “sting like a bee” comes into full effect when the lower half is destroyed in the aftermath.
6 Mortal Kombat (2011): Heads Up!
Combining the before mentioned, Deadly Uppercut and Torso Rip in singularity in the fatality, Heads Up! is Johnny’s signature fatality in Mortal Kombat 9. Starting in typical Cage fashion with the decapitating uppercut and finishing with ripping the headless victim’s torso and slamming it onto the ground.
The fatality adds a little flair with after a brief slow-motion, Johnny catches the head popped up in the air after the slam and hoast it up in triumphant victory like a gladiator in the Colosseum.
5 Mortal Kombat X: Little Improv
Ouch, that’s got to hurt! Just sure pain coming from this fatality. Johnny throws his victim down and repeatedly smashes their head on to the ground.
The face becomes nothing more, but a pure mess of bone and blood as the final breath is taking before the last brutal faceplant. The lasting image is the opponent’s hollowed skull on their lifeless body as Johnny walks away from the scene. We thought improv was supposed to be funny, but this act was definitely no laughing matter here.
4 Mortal Kombat (2011): And The Winner Is…
Given Johnny is a former movie star, he is bound to have a trophy lying around somewhere. Surprise to think he would give it up in a matter that is only fitting in Mortal Kombat.
This fatality starts with a well-placed karate chop to the head and Cage magically has a giant statue in his back pocket, which he “awards” by smashing it between the split head of his victim. Aren’t we glad he is not presenting an award for the Oscars anytime soon?
3 Mortal Kombat X: Here’s Johnny
Johnny Cage has plenty of movie shoutouts and quotes, that many players knew what movie was been referenced the moment he said it. This is not an exception here with Johnny Cage’s rendition of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining reference uttered by Jack Nicholson’s “Here’s Johnny!” line in the film.
However, Johnny doesn’t bother with an ax, he just uses his bare hands to tear down the middle of the victim’s torso and peeping through to say the iconic line. The only thing missing is Wendy Torrance hollering in fear.
2 Mortal Kombat 11: Mr. Cage’s Neighborhood
A very close second, Mr. Cage’s Neighborhood is an awesome and hilarious fatality. A catchy name title in reference to “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood”, Johnny had a little something different in mind to use for props – which is the torso of his unfortunate opponent. Johnny stuffs his hand into the back of the opponent and knocks off the lower half and thus the show commences.
Adding lighting for the mood, Johnny tells a cheesy pun-filled joke (three different jokes) that has the audience booing him and his human ventriloquist off the stage as they throw tomatoes in anger. Maybe Johnny should ask Jeff Dunham for a few pointers next time?
1 Mortal Kombat 11: Practice Makes Perfect
This fatality is where Johnny Cage’s acting chops shine. Keeping to his traditional Deadly Uppercut format, this version of his signature fatality offers a unique twist – it’s apart of a scene in a movie! After the first initial jaw-dropping blow, a “CUT!” from the director is called for. Take number two of the shot is initiated, which Johnny fails again in the process.
After take number 19, Johnny finally manages to take the head off of his victim, which he throws it directly at the screen and flips the bird while doing it. What can we say? Johnny really needed that perfect shot.
NEXT: Mortal Kombat: 10 Best Scorpion Fatalities Of All Time, Ranked
