Nick Khan Says He Wants Busted Open Crew To Stay Critical Of WWE

Nick Khan sat down with the Busted Open crew and delivered a message that might surprise longtime listeners of the show: keep being critical of WWE.

The comment came amid a notable shift for the long-running SiriusXM program. Busted Open’s 24/7 pro wrestling channel has rebranded as WWE Radio following a newly announced partnership between the show and the company. Despite that closer business relationship, Khan reportedly told hosts Dave LaGreca, Tommy Dreamer, Mark Henry and Bully Ray that he doesn’t want the new arrangement to soften their willingness to push back on WWE when they feel it’s warranted.

The conversation happened around SummerSlam, where the Busted Open team was on hand and given a visible seat in the front row, with the broadcast acknowledging their presence during the show. Their attendance doubled as a public showcase of the newly formalized relationship between WWE and the program, which has built its identity over the years on unfiltered, sometimes blunt commentary about the industry — including WWE itself.

That’s what makes Khan’s alleged remark worth paying attention to. Corporate partnerships in wrestling media often raise an obvious question: does closer alignment with a promotion mean softer coverage? Shows that move from independent commentary to an official branding tie-in can face pressure — real or perceived — to pull punches on the company now writing checks or providing access. Khan, WWE’s president, apparently wanted to head that perception off directly, telling the hosts their critical voice is exactly what he wants preserved even under the new banner.

It’s a notable philosophical stance for a company that has, at times, been sensitive to negative press, especially during periods of on-screen or business turbulence. Busted Open has never been shy about criticizing decisions, booking, or handling of talent, and its hosts — several of them former wrestlers themselves — bring a credibility with the wrestling audience that comes specifically from not sounding like a company mouthpiece. If WWE Radio strips that away, it risks becoming just another extension of WWE’s own promotional machine, indistinguishable from the dozens of official podcasts and digital shows the company already produces.

Whether Khan’s comments translate into actual editorial freedom going forward remains to be seen. Words are easy; the real test will come the next time Busted Open has something unflattering to say about a WWE storyline, personnel decision, or business move, and whether that criticism airs unedited under the WWE Radio banner. For now, though, the framing from the top of the company is clear: independence and critical analysis, even under a WWE-branded show, is being presented as a feature, not a bug.

Fans and media watchers alike will be listening closely to see if that promise holds up in practice.