In a media landscape saturated with podcasts, talk shows, and hot takes, Busted Open Radio stands tall as the undisputed champion of wrestling radio. Since debuting on SiriusXM in 2009, the show has transcended the niche of pro wrestling coverage, becoming a daily destination for fans, insiders, and talent alike. What started as a passion project by diehard wrestling fan Dave LaGreca has transformed into a juggernaut—one that blends critical commentary, industry access, and fan engagement in a way no other platform ever has.
Now boasting a lineup that includes former world champions like Bully Ray, Mark Henry, and Tommy Dreamer, Busted Open has evolved into a forum where the wrestling world speaks—and listens. The addition of AEW star Thunder Rosa, wrestling journalist Denise Salcedo, and former WWE Superstar Nic Nemeth (fka Dolph Ziggler) has further diversified the show’s perspectives. And with round-the-clock coverage now seven days a week, it’s clear that Busted Open has grown into far more than just a show. It’s a movement.
The Birth of Busted Open
“I started Busted Open because I was tired of yelling at my radio,” LaGreca told The Athletic in 2022. “I wanted a show where I could talk wrestling the way sports fans talk baseball or football.”
A lifelong producer and New Jersey native, LaGreca envisioned a space where wrestling was given the same serious coverage afforded to the NFL, MLB, and NBA. In 2009, SiriusXM gave him the green light—first on a part-time basis through Mad Dog Sports Radio. The early episodes were raw, energetic, and fueled entirely by LaGreca’s love of the business.
Word spread quickly. Busted Open was a wrestling show by a fan, for fans. And in time, fans became a nation.
Building a Supercard of Hosts
As wrestling’s popularity reignited in the 2010s, Busted Open expanded its coverage—and its roster. LaGreca understood that credibility and chemistry were key. First came ECW legend Tommy Dreamer, then WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry. Then, perhaps most notably, Bully Ray—one half of the legendary Dudley Boyz—joined and brought with him a brash, confrontational style that changed the show’s energy.
“Bully is like the Jim Rome of wrestling,” LaGreca told Sporting News in 2020. “You may not always agree with him, but you listen. He brings intensity, experience, and a true respect for the business.”
With Bully’s hard-nosed analysis, Dreamer’s behind-the-scenes insights, and Henry’s calm but sharp takes, the show became a must-listen. LaGreca, the emotional centerpiece, grounded it all with fan-first passion.
Later additions like Thunder Rosa and Denise Salcedo brought new dimensions. Rosa, still active in AEW, speaks from a wrestler’s perspective—often blending emotional honesty with technical nuance. Salcedo, a rising star in wrestling journalism, offers sharp analysis and contextual clarity.
Then in 2024, former WWE star Nic Nemeth (fka Dolph Ziggler) joined the team, giving Busted Open the unique insight of a 20-year WWE veteran.
“Busted Open isn’t just about talking—it’s about learning,” Nemeth said on-air in February 2025. “Whether you’ve had a 10-minute match or a 10-year career, there’s something to take from every episode.”
A Fan’s Platform, a Wrestler’s Forum
Unlike most wrestling shows, Busted Open thrives because of its balance between fandom and professional experience. LaGreca isn’t a wrestler—and he doesn’t pretend to be.
“There’s no show like this in sports,” Bully Ray said during a 2023 WrestleMania weekend special. “You’ve got a host who’s just like the people listening—and then you’ve got guys like me, Mark, and Tommy, who’ve lived it. It’s a perfect mix.”
That formula allows Busted Open to approach every topic with layered understanding—emotional, critical, technical, and historical. Whether reacting to WWE creative, AEW booking, or independent shows, the show’s takes are timely, passionate, and often polarizing.
But most importantly, they’re honest.
The LaGreca Rant: A Tradition of Truth
If there’s one thing that defines Busted Open Radio, it’s the now-iconic “LaGreca Rant.” Fueled by frustration, love, or outright disbelief, these spontaneous eruptions from Dave have become the soul of the show.
“There’s something cathartic about it,” LaGreca told Wrestling Inc in 2021. “I say what fans are feeling. I scream, I cry, I laugh—it’s all real. I’m not playing a character.”
These rants—sometimes defending underappreciated talent, sometimes eviscerating booking decisions—often go viral. Whether he’s reacting to The Rock’s return, Sting’s retirement, or CM Punk’s latest controversy, LaGreca says what the Nation is thinking.
Busted Open 24/7: The Seven-Day Revolution
Driven by LaGreca’s vision, Busted Open now broadcasts live seven days a week on SiriusXM Fight Nation. Weekend coverage is anchored by hosts like Ryan McKinnell and Andreas Hale, who bring in music, culture, and broader sports context.
“We’ve created a place where wrestling fans are always part of the conversation,” Hale said recently. “That’s something no one else is doing on this level.”
This expanded schedule includes weekly “Master’s Class” segments—deep dives into psychology, promos, and match construction led by veterans like Bully Ray and Henry. For fans and up-and-coming talent alike, these are wrestling seminars in audio form.
And with each host bringing their own flavor—from Thunder Rosa’s grit to Nemeth’s in-ring IQ—the programming never feels redundant.
A Beacon in a Changing Industry
The wrestling world has shifted dramatically since 2009. WWE is now under the TKO Group umbrella. AEW, launched in 2019, is a formidable national brand. NJPW, Impact, MLW, and countless indie companies continue to innovate.
Through it all, Busted Open has been there—sometimes a mirror, sometimes a megaphone.
The show has helped guide the industry through tragedy (Brodie Lee, Bray Wyatt), celebration (Edge’s return, Sting’s retirement), and evolution (AEW’s growth, women’s wrestling rising, media rights wars). It is, at times, the moral compass of the business.
And it doesn’t pander.
When AEW’s locker room tensions boiled over in 2022 and 2023, Busted Open tackled the issue head-on. When WWE’s women’s division stagnated, the hosts didn’t mince words. When great wrestling happened—like Cody Rhodes finishing the story or MJF rising to stardom—they gave flowers.
A Lasting Legacy
Today, Busted Open Radio isn’t just a radio show. It’s a cornerstone of modern wrestling media. With a rotating cast of talent, a passionate fanbase, and unprecedented access, the show has created a space where wrestling is debated, celebrated, and sometimes mourned—with heart and honesty.
“Busted Open is more than a show,” Mark Henry said during the 10th anniversary broadcast. “It’s a family. It’s a community. And it’s changed how we talk about wrestling.”
LaGreca’s mission has never wavered. He’s still the fan yelling at his radio—he just has a mic now. And through him, the Nation has a voice.
“I’m still just a fan,” he said in a 2024 SiriusXM interview. “I still get chills when the glass breaks and Stone Cold comes out. That’s who I am. That’s what this show is about.”
That authenticity, more than any catchphrase or superstar guest, is what makes Busted Open essential.
It’s not just the sound of wrestling talk.
It’s the voice of the wrestling nation.
Featured Articles
Featured Writers
