>>713894741 (OP)My cool prediction: The game takes place at a point when Pauline (who is not the Lady from arcade DK) and Donkey Kong are both kids, and K Rool is introduced at the end and establishes the start of Kremlings having beef with Kongs.
The realistic prediction: It's current time and Pauline is just de-aged by whatever the Void Company did to make her a rock. Void Kong remains the bad guy until the end and all crocodile references are only references and nothing further.