You're a lowly gladiator in Kahn's Arena, probably a slave or something that competes for gold or maybe even Shao's favor. You reached the finals, yes, but your opponent was so fucking boring that Shao had him executed. NOW you fight this beast of a man, your Kahn. On death. You were boring, after all.

(not that MK11 but that menace who slammed your skull with his knuckles, throws "It's official - YOU SUCK" and legitimately destroys you. man's a beast.)