The rod (more specifically the orbicular thing) could be a construct of The Shadow Priests. I've been through what I think its uses would involve.

Kahn's Round Staff Might be to merge the Planets' and Raiden's is Probably used to Unmerge Or Split Them. The essence inside them both could be Blood From a Former Elder God or Onaga The World Destroyer. Kahn Probably got his shadow Priests to Construct his from Onaga's Blood which May be why the Tournament started to begin with. And Raiden asked the Elder Gods for His lol.

...But is this Possibble Or was Onaga Kahn at the time of The Great Kung Laos 1st Tournament? Dun duun duuuuun.... It Has Begun!!!

This Brings me to who Was the Host of These Older Tournaments anyways??? There is Statues By The Entrance to Shang Tsungs Throne Room On The Tournament Island are These People That The Statue's Portray The Previouse Tournament Hosts?

It Would Have Been a Great Addition to the Krypt if there were Examinable Plaques @ The Feet of These Statues With a Brief Bio on Who These Old Timer Folk Were.

Another theory is that at top of the rod I think it's the most powerful Portal Sphere, a glass orb capable of connecting realms. This is much like Nitara's portal stone, even though its power is weaker (little is known about it).

I Wonder If It's a Solid Piece of Petrified Blood or if The Center is Still Warm and Gooey lol.

Another Theory is How Many Lick's Does it Take to Get too the Center Of an Immortal's World Merging Portal Blood Stone Staff Mr. Masr?

"Hmmmm Let Me See"..... lol.

Shao Kahn should ask Sindel this, when it comes to pussy.

I Didn't Know Sindel was that Flexible...2nd thought She does bend Backwards pretty well though.

Anyways is your name John?

I don't think he'd be allowed to do anything sexual with Sindel any way, as much as he thinks he can do what he likes. They could still be intimate though.

I'm sure they have make up sex like every other couple.

Sex with his concubines yes. Not with Queen Sindel though.

Why do you say this?

Probably at a older age, she became sterile plus Elder Gods won't authorize it because of her importance being a key to closing Kahn's portals to Earth (and yes I know she gave birth to Kitana when more youthful). She was a regnant after all.

Still she is a Silver Fox...and I've seen Shang Tsung Have a Go at a few small Flirtatiouse Pick up lines and afterall he was the one who has been ressurecting her Maybe he added a lil extra Cushin in some vital areas you know for the pushin...if you will If he did'nt wouldnt that have been the 2nd time he failed the Emperor?

Shao Kahn must have very high expectations when it comes to courting (unlike Shang Tsung personally), also I could've sworn Quan Chi resurrected Sindel.

He did in the reboot timeline. In the mk3 intro it was originally Shang Tsung and Kahn's Shadow Priests though.

MK11 match dialogues tend to play very loose in the "what timeline are we in" department.