Johnny Cage is based on Jean-Claude Van Damme. The creators wanted Van Damme to be in the first Mortal Kombat, but Van Damme was unable to due to his busy work schedule. Johnny Cage's clothes in this game are almost identical to the clothes Van Damme wore in the last match in the movie "Bloodsport", and his Split Punch is taken directly from a move done by Van Damme in Bloodsport. Cage's Nutcracker Split Punch was also inspired by Bloodsport.