The revenants were a collection of warriors from Mortal Kombat 9 who perished after Sindel's assault on the temple. Resurrected by Quan Chi, they became minions of Shinnok in death, and after his defeat they served Liu Kang.
The revenants may have been defeated in Mortal Kombat 11, but that does not mean that it's impossible for them to return. After all, this isn't the first time zombies have turned against the heroes of Earthrealm (as seen through undead Liu Kang in previous games). To prepare for such an inevitability, we look at five characters that could potentially become revenants and five existing revenants that could be restored.
10 Become A Revenant: Sonya Blade
In Mortal Kombat 11, Sonya Blade was one of the Special Forces' greatest officers. However, after her death (and the emergence of her younger counterpart), it left her former allies with mixed feelings. Especially since her daughter is now roughly her age.
Sonya Blade would be an excellent addition to the revenants both since she does not have the overwhelming strength to fend them off for the fact that it would push Cassie Cage to her limit. Her undeath would force the fledgling agent into maturity and realize the horror of war.
9 Restored: Nightwolf
Nightwolf should be restored for a number of reasons. Most immediately evident is for the property of his abilities. No other member of the cast can call upon the unique, shamanistic powers he does, with his attuned spirit being one of the few reasonably capable of emancipating himself.
Further, he is a natural leader. This was seen by his ability to take charge in Raiden's absence and his heroic last stand against Sindel. Should the series wish to put traveled characters like Liu Kang or Raiden to the sidelines, he would make a worthy replacement.
8 Become A Revenant: Baraka
Baraka's role in Mortal Kombat 11 is much different than what we have seen of him up until this point. He has ascended from simply being Shao Kahn's brutal enforcer to a cherished leader of the Tarkatan people and unlikely ally to Earth.
However, this also makes him a natural target for the forces of the Netherrealm, as he is no longer affiliated with their allies. Should he perish, the Tarkatans would be forced to make a decision. Will they follow his enslavers and become adversaries of Earth once again, or forge their own destiny?
7 Restored: Kung Lao
Kung Lao's restoration would prove an interesting dilemma should Liu Kang remain a revenant in this timeline. From what we have seen of his behavior, the champion of Mortal Kombat is not enslaved by the Netherrealm after Shinnok's death. Instead, he serves a willing grudge against Raiden for his demise.
If Kung Lao is restored and decides to join the forces of good once again, Liu Kang would most likely reconsider his crusade and allow us to analyze the nuances between living and undead mindsets. With the Shaolin's usually cheerful disposition, one could expect him to take his new life in stride.
6 Become A Revenant: Jacqui Briggs
Should Jacqui Briggs become a revenant, it would be a poetic inversion of the fate which befell her father, Jax. Furthermore, it would drive the Major to go to any lengths to bring his daughter back to life (as seen through his ephemeral service of Kronika for the same reason).
If he is successful in restoring her, it would also reopen their discussion about Jacqui's presence in the Special Forces and add a new dynamic to it. It would be interesting to see how far Jax would go to keep her with him ~ possibly even creating another villain.
5 Restored: Sindel
Sindel's restoration would open the door for tremendous possibility, especially under the assumption we follow the Mortal Kombat 9 continuity. Given that she would have her senses returned (previously robbed through the machinations of Shang Tsung), she would be forced to come to grips with what she had done to Earthrealm's warriors.
Perhaps more poignantly, she would bear the responsibility of killing her biological daughter and tormenting her while she died. This would provide a fantastic opportunity for an anti-hero character. One who is determined to wreak vengeance against her former masters for what they have forced her to do.
4 Become A Revenant: Sub-Zero
With the fires of Scorpion's rivalry quenched as of Mortal Kombat X, Sub-Zero becoming a revenant would be an excellent opportunity to rekindle their feud. However, this time Hanzo would be less interested in murdering his opponent so much as he would want to bring him back to the light.
It would become particularly interesting when considering the role Noob Saibot would play in this battle. More than likely, he would attempt to poison his brother's mind, convincing him that nothing good can come of Scorpion's words. It would be fascinating to see his new character design as a revenant when he isn't cybernetic.
3 Restored: Kabal
Unlike his Mortal Kombat 11 variation, Kabal's life before becoming a revenant had the potential to be one of the most compelling stories told yet. He struggled between his life as a Black Dragon and as a law-abiding police officer protecting and serving alongside Stryker.
Unfortunately, becoming a revenant denied any autonomy in his decisions and cut his story arc tragically short. It leaves us to wonder what he might have done if he did not perish in Sindel's onslaught.
2 Become A Revenant: Raiden
It is not impossible for even a Thunder God to become a revenant, otherwise Quan Chi would not have tried during his visit to the Netherrealm. Turning into a minion of darkness would ironically be great for Raiden's character.
His previously uncompromising pride in his own abilities and judgment would be called into question not only to himself, though by those he surrounds himself with. It would humanize his godlike power and give him a conspicuous dimension of vulnerability that otherwise does not exist.
1 Restored: Liu Kang
Near the end of Mortal Kombat 11, revenant Liu Kang technically was restored, though not entirely. His body was fused into Liu Kang's through Raiden's power, imbuing his former student with the might necessary to defeat Kronika.
However, this would essentially be the death of his character, as the alternate timeline Liu Kang's presence dominated their collective will. Should we glimpse a restored Mortal Kombat 9 Liu Kang, it would be interesting to see him and Raiden reconcile their differences ~ if they are capable of doing so.