Why Wong Is Fighting Abomination In Shang-Chi

Warning! This post contains Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings spoilers.

To the surprise of many, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings features an incredibly lopsided Wong vs. Abomination fight. While both characters were confirmed to return in future Phase 4 titles, neither were expected to make an appearance in Shang-Chi’s movie. Why are they participating in an underground tournament?

The fame Shang-Chi acquires after his public fight with Razor Fist earns him a spot in his sister's cage match. Some of the participants include one Extremis-powered fighter and a Black Widow, but without a doubt, the most shocking combatants are the comic book accurate Abomination and Wong. Although Abomination's sheer strength gives him the upper hand against the Master of the Mystic Arts, Wong promptly puts his magic abilities to good use to turn Abomination's own strength against him.

It would be easy to think that Tim Roth’s Abomination either escaped from incarceration or was released between The Incredible Hulk and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. After all, the tournament isn't a widely broadcasted event that could attract the attention of the general public. Abomination's presence in the cage match also puts into question why Wong would be fighting the monster if he isn't a criminal. However, the answer to both of these questions is teased after Wong's victory, as the two fighters are shown to be on friendly terms after the battle. Since Wong opens a portal to what appears to be Abomination's cell, it's likely that Wong is escorting Emil Blonsky on his limited moments of freedom. Whether those who guard Emil Blonsky ever since the events of The Incredible Hulk allow — or even realize — that a sorcerer is regularly taking Blonsky out of his maximum-security cell is not confirmed, but the movie does suggest that Wong and Abomination are arranging the results of their fights beforehand.

As a Master of the Mystic Arts, Wong has specific duties to fill, and battling in an underground martial arts tournament doesn’t really feel like something he would do – unless the circumstances called for it, of course. While Doctor Strange's immense wealth might keep New York's Sanctum Sanctorum in optimal conditions, Wong may prefer to seek the resources himself. In Avengers: Infinity War, Wong doesn't join Doctor Strange and the Avengers due to his duty to protect the Sanctum Sanctorum, and the trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home reveals that he's unable to keep Strange from performing an extremely dangerous spell because he has places to go. Wong isn't a particularly ambitious person, but winning tournament prizes and a moment of freedom sounds like a perfect deal for Wong and Abomination, respectively.

Just like the mid-credits scene in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings sets up future stories for Shang-Chi, Bruce Banner, and Carol Danvers, the brief appearance of Wong and Abomination in the Xialing's fighting tournament set up future appearance for both characters. Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness may confirm why Wong is so busy outside of the Sanctum Sanctorum and She-Hulk may confirm whether Abomination has been given permission to exit his cell once in a while or if Wong is breaking him out in secret.

More: Where Was Doctor Strange During Shang-Chi?