Former World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest is set to host an upcoming show that will be headlined by thrash metal legends Slayer.
As reported by Blabbermouth.net, Slayer will play the 30,000-seat Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pennsylvania on September 20th with Knocked Loose, Suicidal Tendencies, Power Trip, Cavalera and Exodus also performing. Speaking about the upcoming show, Slayer guitarist Kerry King said the following:
“Last year, SLAYER played only two shows, and those shows affected me like playing the ‘Big Four’ shows did. When we played our first show last year in Chicago, I figured it was going to be great for the fans; maybe there would be some people who had never seen us play before, but the reaction was just completely overwhelming. The fans reacted to us like I’d expect them to react to the biggest band on the planet. It was amazing. So for the Hershey concert, we’ll play a SLAYER show, we’ll have all of our big fire effects, and just burn everything like we used to.”
Added King: “This will be the first time SLAYER has played with POWER TRIP or KNOCKED LOOSE, but I am well aware of them from word of mouth, and hearing their music on Liquid Metal. I’m looking forward to seeing them live.”
Priest is a massive Slayer fan with one of his signature moves being named after the Slayer hit South of Heaven along with King performing on Priest’s entrance theme Rise For The Night. Speaking about hosting the upcoming Slayer gig on social media, Priest said the following:
ALL RISE…for @Slayer Kerry King entered my world by playing my entrance theme. Now, I enter Slayer’s world by hosting their comeback on 9/20 at Hershey Stadium in Hershey, PA — their ONLY US headlining show.
Damian Priest has been feuding with Drew McIntyre on WWE SmackDown and looks set to face The Scottish Warrior at WrestleMania 41.
Regarded as one of the greatest thrash metal bands of all time, Slayer are playing a handful of shows around the world in 2025, including the “Back To The Beginning” festival that will celebrate Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne’s influence on the genre.
Damian Priest Talks Love Of Heavy Metal
A massive fan of hard rock and heavy metal, Priest has also made multiple entrances to Alter Bridge’s song The Other Side while a part of The Judgment Day. In 2024, Damian Priest spoke about the connection between heavy metal and pro wrestling and also detailed his dream thrash metal entrance for WrestleMania.