I still don't believe there is a variation left in the game that can be 100% MK9 Kano/Sheeva level written off.
That being said, in terms of being completely invalidated either by other members of the cast or by a character's better variation options:
1. Balanced Kenshi - he's been my guy since the very beginning, the one I wanted to 100% main but couldn't because up until recently he literally wasn't worth the effort, but he's also debateably been the subject of the most scrutiny and debate as far as shit variations go since the beginning who hasn't been addressed in at least some meaningful way or another, with the possible exception of Hat Trick Lao. There is literally no sane competitive/tournament-viability-related reason or advantage to choose Balanced over Kenjutsu or Possessed. None.
2. Metallic Tremor - my actual game-life-long main, who was unnecessarily nerfed - I'm sorry, if there's at least one character in the game they took the nerf bat to too hard because initially he was fucking decent and reasonable design wise, it's Tremor - but still maintains validity. Just not in Metallic. At all.
3. Drunken Master Bo Rai Cho - there isn't a solid zoner in this game that can't outmatch him, and this game is literally the antithesis of defense and zoning.
4. Cyber Sub-Zero - the MK equivalent of the Madden Curse. the second coming of IGAU Scorpion. the literal embodiment of #NeverAllowedToLive. the tragic lovechild of an ass-par character build and overwhelming fearmongering. I mourn for you, Robo Frio.
5. Hat Trick Kung Lao - because I have no earthly fucking idea how a character as overall versatile and capable as Lao can be so soundly fucked in the face with his own hat as he is in this variation compared to Tempest or Buzz Saw. I want to buy
@Eddy Wang a beer one day so he understands how much I feel his pain, because this is the only variation of Lao I had any interest at fucking all in playing and it's just all of the wrong kinds of butt.
That is all.