Kerry King Makes WrestleMania History with Epic Metal Entrance for Damian Priest
Legendary Slayer guitarist Kerry King set the WrestleMania stage ablaze last night (Sunday, April 20) with a surprise appearance that instantly became one of the most unforgettable entrances in WWE history. Appearing at WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada—just outside Las Vegas—King delivered a crushing live performance of WWE superstar Damian Priest’s theme song, “Rise For The Night,” shredding his way into the hearts of wrestling fans and metalheads alike.
The lights went down. The fog began to roll. Flames erupted on the entrance ramp. And then, out of the shadows stepped Kerry King—guitar in hand, ready to summon the spirit of metal for a moment that perfectly bridged the worlds of heavy music and professional wrestling. Behind him emerged Damian Priest, the self-proclaimed “Archer of Infamy” and one of WWE’s most unapologetic metalheads, looking like a demon summoned from a Judas Priest album cover.
As King ripped through the ominous opening riffs of Priest’s theme, the crowd at Allegiant Stadium roared in approval. The performance was thunderous, theatrical, and absolutely brutal—in short, everything a great WrestleMania entrance should be. Priest, dressed in a custom metal-inspired outfit with dark leather and silver accents, was flanked by walls of flame as he made his way down the ramp with the gravitas of a warrior on a mission.
It wasn’t just a walk to the ring; it was a procession that cemented both King and Priest as icons of metal culture within WWE’s ever-expanding universe. Though the match itself—against Scottish powerhouse Drew McIntyre—didn’t go Priest’s way, the entrance alone was enough to etch the moment into WrestleMania lore.
A Surprise That Rocked the WWE Universe
For fans of both Slayer and WWE, this crossover moment was as unexpected as it was epic. While King’s connection to the wrestling world isn’t new—his music has long been a staple for many wrestlers’ highlight reels—this was the first time he performed live at WrestleMania in such a prominent, character-driven way.
It’s worth noting that King has lent his sonic firepower to WWE before. At WrestleMania 39, WWE Hall of Famer Adam “Edge” Copeland made his entrance to Slayer’s bone-chilling classic South of Heaven, a moment that also captivated fans and showed just how seamlessly heavy metal can fuse with wrestling’s theatricality. But while South of Heaven was piped in through the arena’s speakers, this time King was there, live, in the flesh—and the impact was electric.
Fans took to social media instantly, calling it “the most metal entrance ever” and praising WWE for giving metal its due spotlight on the grandest stage of them all. For many, it was a long-overdue acknowledgment of the genre’s massive influence on wrestling culture—from The Undertaker’s gloomy theatrics to Triple H’s iconic Motörhead entrances.
Damian Priest: The Metalhead Champion of WWE
Damian Priest has never hidden his love for metal. Born Luis Martínez, the Puerto Rican-American superstar has infused his character with dark, brooding energy from the start. His look, demeanor, and in-ring persona are all shaped by his love for heavy music—a fact he’s been proud to share in interviews over the years.
Speaking to Metal Hammer in 2023, Priest opened up about how metal music helped shape his identity both inside and outside the ring.
“Music in general, it moulds your character,” he said. “How you dress, how you talk, your vibe. For me, heavy metal is everything I like, because I’ve always been into the weird, the odd, things that aren’t normal. I love that vibe. I’ve always loved that idea of being different, and [metal] just made me feel alive.”
That love for metal isn’t just performative—it’s deeply personal. Priest has been seen sporting shirts from bands like Metallica, Judas Priest, and, of course, Slayer. His persona is equal parts classic metal antihero and contemporary sports entertainer, and his synergy with Kerry King last night felt less like a gimmick and more like the realization of a lifelong dream.
Kerry King’s Resurgence: From Slayer to Solo and Back Again
Kerry King’s WrestleMania appearance couldn’t come at a more exciting time in his career. After Slayer’s supposed final tour in 2019, many fans thought they’d seen the last of the thrash metal titans. But 2024 brought news of a much-anticipated reunion, with King and his bandmates set to return for a handful of reunion shows this year—including two massive UK dates this summer alongside metal giants Amon Amarth, Mastodon, Anthrax, Hatebreed, and rising stars Neckbreakker.
And that’s not all. King will also be part of this July’s historic farewell concert for Black Sabbath, sharing the stage with the very band that helped birth heavy metal as a genre more than five decades ago. It’s a full-circle moment for the guitarist, whose ferocious playing helped define an entire generation of extreme metal.
His appearance at WrestleMania isn’t just a crossover—it’s part of a larger renaissance for one of metal’s most enduring figures. It also shows how music and wrestling, two art forms built on storytelling, intensity, and larger-than-life personas, can work together to create unforgettable moments.
A New Standard for WrestleMania Entrances
Over the years, WrestleMania has given us some iconic entrances: Shawn Michaels descending from the rafters, Triple H’s throne-like appearances, and The Undertaker’s slow, ghostly walks to the ring. But Priest’s entrance with Kerry King sets a new benchmark for blending music and performance in pro wrestling.
It wasn’t just cool—it was authentic. It wasn’t a pop star brought in to sing a generic theme; it was a genuine metal icon playing a song that means something to the wrestler, to the fans, and to the genre itself. It was loud, raw, aggressive, and beautiful—a distillation of everything metal and wrestling have in common.
The Aftermath: Priest Falls, But Leaves a Mark
Although Damian Priest ultimately lost to Drew McIntyre in their hard-hitting match, the entrance might have been the night’s true victory. Priest has already cemented his place as one of the most charismatic and unique superstars in WWE today, and his pairing with Kerry King gave fans a moment they’ll be talking about for years.
As WWE continues to evolve and blur the lines between sport, entertainment, and music, collaborations like this one may become more common. But it’ll be hard to top what happened at WrestleMania 41—a moment when metal met mania, and the result was pure fire.
One thing is clear: last night, Kerry King didn’t just play Damian Priest to the ring—he played himself into the annals of WrestleMania history. And in doing so, he reminded the world that metal isn’t just music. It’s a movement. And it belongs on the biggest stage of them all.
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