Kerry King Performs Entrance Theme for Damian Priest at WrestleMania
Slayer’s Kerry King Rocks WrestleMania with Damian Priest: A Heavy Metal Entrance to Remember
In a stunning marriage of heavy metal and sports entertainment, Slayer’s legendary guitarist Kerry King took the ring at WrestleMania 41, performing the entrance theme for WWE superstar Damian Priest. The event, held on April 20th at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, saw King’s lightning-fast riffs electrifying the crowd as Priest ambled to the ring, setting the tone for an unforgettable night.
King delivered a fiery rendition of “Rise for the Night,” the latest version of Priest’s entrance song that King collaborated on, marking his inaugural involvement with a WWE entrance theme. While “Here Comes the Pain” has previously graced WWE’s airwaves through compilation licenses and “South of Heaven” found its way to a one-off performance by Edge at WrestleMania 39 last year, this was King’s first full-throttle performance in the ring—a transition that felt as natural as a Slayer jam session.
As Priest strode down the ramp flanked by smoke and dazzling pyrotechnics, it was hard to tell if fans were witnessing a wrestling match or a Slayer concert. The atmosphere was nothing short of electric, ignited by the massive screens flashing Priest’s heavy metal-style logo, which felt like a compact shot of adrenaline before the impending fisticuffs.
However, for all the hype surrounding their collaborative entrance, the fight itself turned out to be somewhat of a letdown. Priest faced off against Scottish powerhouse Drew McIntyre, whose own entrance—decked out with thematic elements from the upcoming game DOOM: The Dark Ages—took a creative spin on the heavy metal aesthetic. Ultimately, McIntyre walked away with a convincing victory, leaving the first-time collaboration seeming more like a spectacle than a precursor to an all-out battle.
Yet, for Kerry King, the night was a milestone. A passionate sports fan—particularly an ardent supporter of the Raiders—King has made it clear that he’s not just about the music. He has entered a new chapter in his illustrious career, combining his steel-string onslaught with the electrifying world of wrestling.
With a busy touring schedule set for 2025, including a headlining slot at the Louder Than Life festival in September and a massive gig in Pennsylvania with an array of heavy-hitting acts like Knocked Loose and Suicidal Tendencies, it’s clear that King isn’t slowing down anytime soon. If this is any indication of what’s to come, fans can expect more high-octane collaborations that blur the lines between music and sports.
Check out footage from Priest’s face-melting entrance with Kerry King below and stay tuned for more from this iconic collaboration as it solidifies its place in the annals of heavy metal and wrestling history.
Watch Damian Priest’s entrance with Kerry King here!
As Slayer continues to resonate with fans both in and out of the ring, one can only imagine what electrifying moments are on the horizon. For now, the fusion of thrash metal’s raw intensity and the spectacle of professional wrestling is a potent reminder of the universal thrill music and sports can provide—especially when they come together in glorious unison.
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