WWE Radio Announced Ahead Of SummerSlam
A new WWE venture has been announced, giving fans another way to watch upcoming events like SummerSlam.
The SiriusXM Radio show called “Busted Open Radio” has been a big part of the pro wrestling business for the last decade and a half, but now it’s undergoing a change.
After Busted Open Radio became the centerpiece of a full-time pro wrestling channel on SiriusXM, it was announced on Thursday that WWE had acquired the channel.
In a press release, it was announced that popular WWE podcasts hosted by Cody Rhodes, Stephanie McMahon, The Undertaker and others will be featured on the new WWE Radio channel. There will also be other shows covering storylines and other news related to WWE content.
As part of the announcement, it was also revealed that the NXT announce team of Vic Joseph and Booker T will broadcast SummerSlam on August 1 and 2 exclusively on WWE Radio.
SiriusXM and WWE have announced the launch of WWE Radio, the new official audio home of WWE. Starting Monday, July 27, WWE Radio takes over SiriusXM channel 156, serving as the ultimate destination for WWE fans as it brings together SiriusXM’s popular daily programming, live audio broadcasts of the biggest WWE events and premier podcast content.
WWE Radio elevates SiriusXM’s wrestling offering by providing live play-by-play audio coverage of all of WWE’s biggest Premium Live Events (PLEs) including WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble and Survivor Series. In addition to these live event broadcasts, the channel will feature select audio simulcasts of WWE’s weekly flagship television programming, giving fans a way to follow the action from anywhere.
The launch comes ahead of SummerSlam weekend, when SiriusXM will produce WWE Radio’s first live event broadcast of the two-night event on-site in Minnesota on Saturday, Aug. 1, and Sunday, Aug, 2. Lead play-by-play announcer Vic Joseph will be joined by WWE Hall of Famer Booker T, as they call the action in and around the ring to SiriusXM listeners.
In addition to the live event coverage, WWE Radio will be home to the popular daily wrestling programming that SiriusXM has delivered wrestling fans for years. The programming lineup is anchored by SiriusXM’s longtime flagship wrestling show, “Busted Open,” hosted by Dave LaGreca and WWE Legends Bully Ray, Mark Henry and Nic Nemeth every day from 9 a.m. to noon ET.
Listeners will also hear “Notsam Wrestling Live,” hosted by Sam Roberts, “Cheap Heat Live” with Peter Rosenberg, “The Hart Beat with Natalya,” and “Off the Ropes,” which features a cast of current and former wrestlers including Raj Dhesi, Mark Henry and Tommy Dreamer. The nighttime show, “Busted Open After Dark,” will continue to air five nights a week to give fans a place to call in and react after nightly wrestling events.
WWE Radio will be available to SiriusXM listeners nationwide in their cars (SiriusXM channel 156) and on the SiriusXM app.
Busted Open Radio Host Addresses WWE Radio Change
In a video posted on the Busted Open Radio social media accounts, host Dave LaGreca, who has appeared on WWE NXT broadcasts in the past, spoke about the new WWE Radio.
“Starting Monday, July 27, we will be WWE Radio. Every show is going to be the exact same that you know and love – Busted Open, Notsam Wrestling Live, Off The Ropes, Busted Open After Dark. But now we’re going to have the TV simulcast of Raw, of SmackDown, of NXT. We’re going to have original SiriusXM productions of every major WWE PLE, homegrown right here on SiriusXM. Plus, Stephanie McMahon’s podcast, Cody Rhodes, The Undertaker, Sam & Megan [Morant] – all here.
I cannot believe that a show that started for one hour, one day a week is now going to be partnered with the greatest pro wrestling company, the biggest pro wrestling company – not just now but ever in this great sport. And make no mistake about it, if you think I’m letting the foot off the gas, if you think you’re not going to get what you’re used to hearing from Dave LaGreca on a daily basis. You think I’m going to stop ranting? No!”
While the announcement was met with enthusiasm by WWE fans, other pro wrestling fans likely realize there won’t be discussions about other pro wrestling companies that aren’t associated with WWE, like AEW, which used to be covered on Busted Open Radio.
It has also led to questions about whether hosts on WWE Radio will criticize storylines or booking decisions because that could be seen as a negative on a radio station owned by WWE now.
The next WWE PLE is SummerSlam on August 1 & 2 from U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Here’s the lineup so far following WWE Raw from this past Monday.
* WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Seth Rollins
* Undisputed WWE Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. Cody Rhodes
* Hell in a Cell Match: Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar
* Women’s World Championship: Liv Morgan (c) vs. Iyo Sky
* Intercontinental Championship: Penta (c) vs. Chad Gable
* LA Knight, Royce Keys & Solo Sikoa vs. The Usos – Jimmy & Jey Uso and Jacob Fatu
* Gunther vs. Nick Aldis
* Interim WWE Women’s Championship Ladder Match: Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill vs. three other women
* Danhausen vs. Dominik Mysterio
You can watch SummerSlam, a special two-night event, STREAMING LIVE on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on the ESPN App with an ESPN Unlimited plan in the United States and on Netflix internationally.