Frayhua
[14] Master
They just rewrote the continuity. Kazuya was meant to be dead at the end of Tekken 2 with Jin replacing him, but they brought him back due to fan outcry. You could get away with it back then as you didn't have in depth story with all potential scenarios being what ifs.
Tekken 1 & 2 weren't popular. The series took of with Tekken 3 being critical & commercially received.