When he was an infant, he and the members of his tribe were being forced off their land by Shadoloo. Some of the Thunderfoot members resisted and fought against them, and many were killed, including Arroyo Hawk (T. Hawk's father), who was killed by a younger Vega. Now living in Mexico near the Monte Albán plains, T. Hawk wants nothing more than revenge from Vega for his despicable actions and to reclaim the land that was taken from his people.

The Thunderfoot tribe had experienced disappearances of many of their people, T. Hawk took the responsibility of finding them. One of them became Noembelu, one of Vega's brainwashed dolls. He found Noembelu, but it is not known if she returned home with him or regained any memories she lost as a doll. It is also unknown whether T. Hawk found anyone else in his tribe, but he may have due to his change in focus afterwards.

T. Hawk entered the second World Warrior tournament to battle against Vega to reclaim his people's lands and win their freedom from his tyranny. He does not come out the big winner, but T. Hawk does regain his land - however, it is desolate and empty. Determined, T. Hawk vows to make his land as great as it once was and bring the Thunderfoot people back home.