Slayer guitarist Kerry King made a notable appearance at WWE‘s Wrestlemania 41 on Sunday, April 20, performing live guitar for Damian Priest‘s entrance theme, “Rise For the Night.” Footage of the metal icon’s special perfromance is available below.
The track, “Rise For the Night,” was produced by Def Rebel, the team responsible for WWE‘s original theme music since 2019, and features Kerry King on guitar.
King’s appearance at WrestleMania 41 to perform Damian Priest’s entrance was anticipated, especially considering that Priest is set to host Slayer’s highly anticipated concert in September 2025.
The legendary thrash band will make their only U.S. East Coast appearance at the Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, PA, on Saturday, September 20, 2025. The lineup includes Knocked Loose, Suicidal Tendencies, and Power Trip, as well as special performances by Cavalera playing Chaos A.D. in full and Exodus performing Bonded By Blood. Priest’s involvement with Slayer is therefore not coincidental.
Kerry King‘s performance at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, just outside Las Vegas, provided what is being described as one of the most metal entrances in Wrestlemania history. King shredded through the track as Priest emerged, flanked by flames and fog, before his match with Drew McIntyre.
This is not King‘s first foray into Wrestlemania entrances; WWE Hall of Famer Adam ‘Edge‘ Copeland previously used Slayer‘s “South Of Heaven” for his entrance at Wrestlemania 39. Despite Priest ultimately losing his match, his entrance was a memorable moment.
However, King‘s performance was not without technical issues, as seen in available footage. Last year, King revamped Priest’s entrance theme “Rise For The Night“, which he performed in-person.
Priest is a known Slayer fan, even naming his finishing move ‘South Of Heaven‘ as a tribute to the band.
Slayer Reunion Shows:
- July 3, 2025 – Cardiff, UK – Blackweir Fields (with Amon Amarth, Anthrax, Mastodon, Hatebreed and Neckbreakker)
- July 5, 2025 – Birmingham, UK – Villa Park
- July 6, 2025 – London, UK – Finsbury Park (with Amon Amarth, Anthrax, Mastodon, Hatebreed and Neckbreakker)
- July 11, 2025 – Québec City, QC – Festival d’été de Québec
- September 18, 2025 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life @ Highland Festival Grounds
- September 20, 2025 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium (with Knocked Loose, Suicidal Tendencies, Power Trip, Cavalera and Exodus)
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