Jim Ross Hopes WWE-SiriusXM Deal Also Boosts AEW’s Profile

Jim Ross says he’s all for WWE’s expanding radio footprint, but he’d like to see some of that same media spotlight shine on AEW.

On the latest episode of his podcast, Grilling JR, the WWE Hall of Famer weighed in on SiriusXM’s decision to rebrand its Pro Wrestling Nation 24/7 channel as WWE Radio. Ross called the move a logical step for WWE, saying he’s curious to see how the new branding “evolves” and “develops” over time. He also reflected on his own history with wrestling radio, noting that he helped launch WWE’s original radio show years ago alongside Gorilla Monsoon, and that he’s long believed the medium is a natural fit for the industry when done right.

But Ross didn’t stop at praising WWE’s latest media play. He pivoted to AEW, saying the promotion deserves more acknowledgment from major wrestling outlets and platforms than it currently receives. “I wish my AEW would get a little love out of that whole those topics and those outlets,” Ross said, adding that he feels the company is “overlooked” despite having “too much talent” and putting on quality in-ring product that goes unrecognized.

Ross was careful to frame his comments as an observation rather than a shot at WWE, going out of his way to praise the company’s standing in the industry. “You’re wearing the biggest pants in town,” he said. “It’s a big deal. WWE’s rock solid.” He went on to describe the current moment as a pivotal one for the wrestling business as a whole, citing the shifting media landscape and WWE’s success in cross-branding its product across multiple outlets. Ross said he’s watching closely to see how growth — and control over that growth — plays out for every promotion in the coming months.

Ross’s comments land at an interesting moment for AEW, which has spent years building a reputation for strong in-ring storytelling while frequently finding itself compared unfavorably to WWE in terms of mainstream media coverage and casual-fan buzz. Despite a roster loaded with acclaimed workers and a dedicated audience, AEW has often struggled to break through in the same pop-culture conversations that WWE dominates — something Ross, who has deep ties to WWE, was notably willing to point out.

The timing also underscores just how much ground WWE has covered on the media front. The newly launched WWE Radio channel keeps established programming like Busted Open in its lineup, with hosts Dave LaGreca, Bully Ray, Mark Henry, Tommy Dreamer, and Nic Nemeth continuing on as before. Booker T, one of the voices closely associated with that programming, has said he doesn’t expect the show’s overall direction to shift under the rebrand — suggesting continuity even as WWE tightens its branding across SiriusXM’s wrestling offerings.

For AEW, the challenge Ross describes isn’t new, but it remains relevant as the promotion continues to compete for attention in an industry where WWE’s reach across TV, streaming, and now radio keeps expanding. Whether that attention gap narrows will likely depend less on any single media deal and more on how AEW continues to position itself relative to the industry’s dominant player. Ross, for his part, made clear he’ll be watching with interest.