When the sports media landscape shifts, it usually happens behind a television screen or via a streaming app. But as the calendar flipped to late July 2026, the intersection of sports entertainment and audio broadcasting found a brand-new frontier. SiriusXM and WWE officially teamed up to launch WWE Radio, a dedicated 24/7 channel taking over channel 156—formerly home to Pro Wrestling Nation 24/7—starting July 27, 2026. This partnership goes far beyond a simple station rebranding; it represents a calculated push to embed live professional wrestling into the traditional audio ecosystem.
For roughly a century, radio has forged an intimate bond with sports fans, translating spatial dynamics and kinetic tension into pure narrative theater without relying on visuals. Now, wrestling is stepping directly into that lineage. WWE will produce its very first live audio simulcast of a Premium Live Event (PLE) as SummerSlam 2026 unfolds across two massive nights on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, live from Minnesota.
The Channel 156 Architecture: Daily Programming and Fanatics Podcasts
WWE Radio is designed to serve as an exhaustive 24/7 destination for the WWE Universe, merging SiriusXM's established wrestling talk infrastructure with premier new content. The daily schedule is anchored by SiriusXM's flagship wrestling discussion show, Busted Open, broadcast every morning from 9 a.m. to noon ET and hosted by Dave LaGreca alongside WWE Legends Bully Ray, Mark Henry, and Nic Nemeth. Fans also benefit from late-night debriefs through Busted Open After Dark, which airs five nights a week to accommodate live caller reactions.
The weekly grid is further rounded out by specialized personality-driven audio blocks:
- Notsam Wrestling Live, hosted by Sam Roberts
- Cheap Heat Live, featuring Peter Rosenberg
- The Hart Beat, hosted by Natalya
- Off the Ropes, featuring a rotating cast of current and former wrestlers including Raj Dhesi, Mark Henry, and Tommy Dreamer
Additionally, a suite of popular WWE podcasts produced in partnership with Fanatics airs daily at 4 p.m. ET, capturing perspectives straight from the locker room and the front office.
| Show Title | Host(s) |
|---|---|
| What Do You Want to Talk About? | Cody Rhodes |
| Six Feet Under | The Undertaker |
| What’s Your Story? | Steph McMahon |
| WWE Now, Raw Recap | Sam Roberts and Megan Morant
On-Site in Minneapolis: SummerSlam Weekend Logistics
The timing of the channel launch was engineered specifically to capture the kinetic momentum of SummerSlam weekend. SiriusXM set up shop directly at the Minneapolis Convention Center, broadcasting multiple live shows to engage fans face-to-face and analyze upcoming storylines in the days leading up to the opening bell. Executives and talent alike emphasized the strategic value of this direct access.
The WWE Universe is always looking for new ways to engage with WWE, and our partnership with SiriusXM will deliver exclusive access, original programming and live event coverage that brings fans closer to the action wherever they are,
noted Alex Varga, Executive Vice President of WWE, highlighting the structural intent of the collaboration.
Jared Fox, Senior Vice President of Sports Programming, Content Marketing & Partnerships for SiriusXM, reinforced that sentiment: By bringing together SiriusXM’s live pro wrestling programming with WWE’s world-class events, we are delivering an unmatched, 24/7 home for the WWE Universe, giving fans a way to tune in to every match and stay connected with every storyline, from anywhere they want to listen.
The Two-Night SummerSlam Broadcast Team and Match Cards
When the lights go up for the historic live radio broadcast, the audio booth will be anchored by lead play-by-play announcer Vic Joseph, teaming up with WWE Hall of Famer Booker T to guide listeners through the chaotic in-ring action. We’re excited to bring the WWE Universe closer to all of the in-ring action at WWE’s biggest events on SiriusXM, beginning with wall-to-wall coverage of SummerSlam in Minnesota,
Booker T stated ahead of the broadcast.
The weekend features a dense, high-stakes lineup across two distinct nights:
- SummerSlam Saturday: CM Punk (c) defends the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes; Oba Femi battles Brock Lesnar in a Hell in a Cell match; Liv Morgan (c) puts the Women's World Championship on the line against IYO SKY; Gunther faces Nick Aldis; LA Knight, Solo Sikoa & Royce Keys collide with Jacob Fatu & The Usos in a six-man tag; and The Bella Twins & Paige face Fatal Influence in a six-women tag match.
- SummerSlam Sunday: Roman Reigns (c) defends the World Heavyweight Championship against Seth Rollins; Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill, Charlotte Flair, Chelsea Green, and a mystery competitor clash in an Interim WWE Women’s Championship Ladder Match; Penta (c) defends the Intercontinental Championship against Chad Gable; Trick Williams (c) faces Baron Corbin for the United States Championship; Sami Zayn meets Finn Bálor in an Undisputed WWE Championship No. 1 Contender’s Match; and Danhausen locks horns with Dominik Mysterio.
Beyond SummerSlam, WWE Radio has secured its place as the permanent year-round audio home for WWE’s premier calendar, carrying live audio coverage for the industry's other cornerstone events: WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, and Survivor Series.
Sources
These sources formed the evidence pack for this article. Links open the original publisher; inclusion does not imply endorsement.
- siriusxm.com original
- investor.siriusxm.com original
- corporate.wwe.com original
- wwe.com original
- Alex Weprin original
- usatoday.com original
