Craig Marduk

**Craig Marduk** (クレイグ・マードック *Kureigu Mādokku*) was introduced in *Tekken 4*, and he has returned for all subsequent releases.

A once celebrated Vale Tudo Champion, Marduk was on top of the Vale Tudo world and would stay there had he not been forced to retire. Craig's undefeated streak had caused him to become extremely arrogant and this nature would look to himself as a "Perfect fighting machine". Bitter over his forced retirement, Marduk would eventually while away time at the different bars. This bitterness combined with Marduk's own arrogance would eventually cause a brawl in one of the bars Marduk visited and resulted with the opposing man being killed by Marduk. Despite being charged for manslaughter, an unknown benefactor tipped him off regarding The King of Iron Fist Tournament and helped release Marduk prematurely. Marduk, curious, but most likely seeing this as a challenge, eventually entered the tournament in order to meet this benefactor.

In the fourth tournament, he would end up fighting his benefactor, a man who was filled with revenge over the death of the man in the Arizona brawl. Marduk would lose severely and required hospitalization. The man nearly came close to killing Marduk, but upon seeing that Marduk had to care for an elderly couple, immediately reconsidered. Marduk however, was so shocked at the fight's outcome so much that he trained himself with new vigor to challenge the man who defeated him. He also wanted to fight a roused man, so he proceeded to taunt his opponent by wearing a black jaguar mask resembling that of the man's master. He would yet again lose, but would find new found respect after his second loss to the man, and the two would become close friends. To his surprise, he would be attacked by a man resembling the one he killed in the brawl. Despite this uncertainty, he eventually founded a new gym alongside his new friend, helping train others, many of whom would plan on joining professional wrestling. He later would go on to decide with his friend to find out as much information he could find regarding this mysterious attacker.

Marduk in his early stages was basically very arrogant and belligerent. He would not consider holding back or showing mercy to his opponents, even if the difference of skill between them would be extreme. He also hated losing more than anything and could not accept the single loss that he had in the fourth tournament. Marduk would actually focus more on these small fights instead of the entire tournament, making sure that he wants the world to know that he was, and will still be, the best fighter there is. Despite all these negative traits, Marduk would still find himself taking care of a sickly and elderly couple on his own. Shortly after his second loss against King II, many of the negative traits of Marduk disappeared. He was significantly less arrogant, took his losses better and at times would even hold back against opponents. A significant trait that he could not abandon however was his somewhat lecherous nature despite the scandal that already cost him his Vale Tudo career. Despite major reformations, he still finds himself under attack by a single man who does not believe that Marduk has changed for the better.