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Busted Wide Open

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Sharp wrestling talk from the live-chat trenches.

The gist

Busted Wide Open mixes wrestling recaps, pay-per-view reactions, tournament updates, and patron mailbag episodes. Nick Howell and Sir Ian Dangerous bring sharp booking criticism, running jokes, and a live Twitch-room feel to the conversation.

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About Busted Wide Open

Busted Wide Open is a pro wrestling conversation show rooted in recaps, event previews, and immediate post-show analysis. Nick Howell and Sir Ian Dangerous approach wrestling as fans who still want the details to matter. The show covers WWE Raw, Clash of Champions, Backlash, Extreme Rules, AEW, NXT, Smackdown, and NJPW G1 Climax updates. It also runs patron mailbag episodes where audience questions steer the conversation into fantasy booking, wrestler development, pop-culture detours, and old debates with new punchlines. The energy is big. The analysis is often specific. When the hosts criticize Raw, they usually point to the actual damage they see: repeated non-finishes, aimless feuds, weakened tag divisions, altered gimmicks, and comedy that may get a laugh while making wrestlers harder to take seriously later. Character work is a recurring concern. The show spends time on promos, acting fundamentals, entrances, music, presentation, and the fragile line between letting a performer shine and overproducing what already worked. It can be very funny, especially when a mailbag question turns into a spirited argument over movie pilots or when a wrestling segment gets compared to a kitchen full of unnecessary recipe changes. It is not a detached recap desk. It sounds like two informed fans processing the product in real time, with Twitch chat, patrons, bits, raids, and community references in the room. That live texture gives the episodes a looser shape than a tightly scripted review show. The tradeoff is part of the appeal. Busted Wide Open can rant, wander, joke, circle back, and then land on a surprisingly precise read of why a story beat failed. The show is built for listeners who follow modern wrestling closely enough to care about Andrade, Angel Garza, Kevin Owens, Apollo Cruz, Street Profits, Seth Rollins, Rey Mysterio, Roman, Jey Uso, and tournament standings without needing every reference explained. It favors passion over polish. It also rewards fans who like hearing booking choices argued through from several angles rather than scored and dismissed. The result is loud, nerdy, skeptical wrestling talk with a genuine investment in performers being used well.

Made for: For pro wrestling fans who follow WWE, AEW, NXT, Smackdown, and NJPW closely and want detailed reactions after major shows. It especially suits listeners who enjoy booking debates, character analysis, and rowdy fan-community energy.

What sets it apart: Busted Wide Open blends recap analysis with the feel of a Twitch-driven fan room, where patron questions and live reactions shape the pace. Its edge comes from pairing comedy and exasperation with concrete attention to wrestling presentation, promos, gimmicks, and long-term booking damage.

In their own words

The most badass Pro Wrestling and Sports Entertainment podcast is about to powerbomb you through a table!

As heard by us

Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026

Nick Howell and Sir Ian Dangerous connect match results to the booking choices shaping wrestlers, rivalries and entire divisions.

Busted Wide Open turns wrestling results into arguments about booking, character work and the decisions that make a match matter beyond its finish.

Read our full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

A Raw letdown becomes your invitation to book two giants straight through a wall.

Press play if you want

  • Nick Howell and Sir Ian Dangerous to argue over why a non-finish would have served two big men better
  • someone who cares what a character change does to a wrestler's entrance
Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
WWE Raw recapsNJPW G1 Climax updatespay-per-view previews and pick'emsAEW Dynamite discussionNXT and Smackdown coveragePatron Mailbag questionstag team bookingwrestler character presentation

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Podcasts like Busted Wide Open

Episodes

  1. 1

    #41 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 6m
  2. 2

    #267 WWE Raw Recap + NJPW G1 Climax 30 Update

    ·1h 30m
  3. 3

    WWE Clash of Champions Recap & Analysis

    ·1h 14m
  4. 4

    #266 Going Home to WWE Clash of Champions + AEW | NXT

    ·2h 5m
  5. 5

    #50 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 15m
  6. 6

    #265 WWE Raw Recap + NJPW G1 Update

    ·1h 54m
  7. 7

    #264 AEW | NXT | Smackdown Recap & Analysis

    ·1h 46m
  8. 8

    #49 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 25m
  9. 9

    #263 WWE Raw Recap + NJPW G1 Climax 30 Preview

    ·1h 31m
  10. 10

    #262 AEW | NXT | Smackdown with JB!

    ·1h 57m
  11. 11

    #261 WWE Monday Night Raw Recap

    ·1h 28m
  12. 12

    AEW All Out Recap & Analysis

    ·1h 16m
  13. 13

    #48 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 26m
  14. 14

    #260 AEW All Out Preview & Pick’ems + NXT | Smackdown

    ·1h 51m
  15. 15

    [UPDATE] A Message from Nick & Ian

    ·15m
  16. 16

    #259 WWE Raw Recap + NJPW Summer Struggle Results

    ·1h 23m
  17. 17

    WWE Payback 2020 Recap & Analysis

    ·1h 11m
  18. 18

    #47 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 27m
  19. 19

    #258 Going Home to WWE Payback + AEW | NXT

    ·2h 2m
  20. 20

    #257 SummerSlam Fallout & Bright Side of the Ring

    ·1h 51m
  21. 21

    WWE SummerSlam 2020 Recap & Analysis

    ·1h 16m
  22. 22

    NXT Takeover XXX Recap & Analysis

    ·55m
  23. 23

    #46 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 21m
  24. 24

    #256 NXT Takeover XXX + WWE SummerSlam Preview & Pick’ems

    ·1h 57m
  25. 25

    #255 WWE Raw Goes Home to SummerSlam 2020

    ·1h 26m
  26. 26

    #45 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 45m
  27. 27

    #254 AEW | NXT | Smackdown — Recap & Analysis

    ·1h 57m
  28. 28

    #253 WWE Monday Night Raw — Recap & Analysis

    ·1h 23m
  29. 29

    #252 AEW | NXT | Smackdown

    ·1h 56m
  30. 30

    #251 WWE Raw Underground

    ·1h 25m
  31. 31

    #250 AEW, NXT, & Friday Night Smackdown

    ·1h 46m
  32. 32

    #249 WWE Raw Recap + IMPACT Wrestle House + NJPW Sengoku Lord

    ·1h 33m
  33. 33

    #42 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 14m
  34. 34

    #248 Eddie Kingston DEBUT, Karrion Kross DOMINATES, and Naomi Gets a Chance

    ·1h 57m
  35. 35

    #247 Extreme Rules Fallout on WWE Monday Night Raw + IMPACT Slammiversary Recap

    ·1h 22m
  36. 36

    WWE Horror Show at Extreme Rules 2020 Recap & Analysis

    ·1h 13m
  37. 37

    #51 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 31m
  38. 38

    #246 AEW Fight for the Fallen, NXT, Smackdown, & WWE Extreme Rules Preview & Pick’ems

    ·1h 53m
  39. 39

    #245 WWE Monday Night Raw + NJPW New Japan Cup & Dominion

    ·1h 28m
  40. 40

    #40 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 22m
  41. 41

    #244 AEW Fyter Fest, NXT Championship, & Smackdown Karaoke Showdown

    ·2h
  42. 42

    #243 WWE Monday Night Raw Recap + NJPW New Japan Cup Analysis

    ·1h 30m
  43. 43

    #39 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 22m
  44. 44

    #242 AEW Fyter Fest, NXT Great American Bash, & Friday Night Smackdown

    ·1h 56m
  45. 45

    #241 WWE Monday Night Raw + Bright Side of the Ring

    ·1h 12m
  46. 46

    #38 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·59m
  47. 47

    #240 Going Home to AEW Fyter Fest + NXT | Smackdown

    ·1h 54m
  48. 48

    #239 WWE Monday Night Raw + NJPW New Japan Cup UPDATES!

    ·1h 14m
  49. 49

    #37 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 17m
  50. 50

    #238 AEW | NXT | Smackdown – Recap & Analysis

    ·2h
  51. 51

    #237 Backlash Fallout on WWE Raw & New Japan Cup Begins

    ·1h 24m
  52. 52

    #36 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 8m
  53. 53

    #236 WWE Backlash Preview & Pick’ems + AEW | NXT

    ·1h 57m
  54. 54

    NXT Takeover In Your House Recap & Analysis

    ·1h 7m
  55. 55

    #233 WWE Monday Night Raw Recap & Analysis

    ·1h 1m
  56. 56

    #34 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 11m
  57. 57

    #232 AEW | NXT | Friday Night Smackdown – Recap & Analysis

    ·2h 3m
  58. 58

    #231 WWE Monday Night Raw Recap & Analysis

    ·1h 26m
  59. 59

    AEW Double or Nothing 2020 Recap & Analysis

    ·1h 11m
  60. 60

    #33 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 13m
  61. 61

    #35 BWO Patron Mailbag

    Hosts Nick Howell and Sir Ian Dangerous answer questions from patrons on their pro wrestling podcast.

    ·1h 29m
  62. 62

    #230 NXT | Smackdown | AEW Dynamite + Double or Nothing Preview & Pick’ems

    ·2h 17m
  63. 63

    #229 Natalya Loses It, Bobby Lashley Lurks, and Austin Theory Joins

    ·1h 35m
  64. 64

    #32 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 13m
  65. 65

    #228 AEW | NXT | Smackdown – Recap & Analysis

    ·2h 4m
  66. 66

    #227 Becky Lynch is Pregnant & Seth Rollins is Losing It

    ·1h 26m
  67. 67

    WWE Money in the Bank 2020 Recap & Analysis

    ·1h 4m
  68. 68

    #31 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 22m
  69. 69

    #226 Karrion Kross & Scarlett, Le Sex Gods, and Bray vs Braun

    ·2h 1m
  70. 70

    #225 WWE Monday Night Raw Goes Home to Money in the Bank

    ·1h 16m
  71. 71

    #30 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 22m
  72. 72

    #217 WrestleMania Fallout on WWE Monday Night Raw

    ·1h 22m
  73. 73

    #224 Charlotte Dominates, Rhodes Bleeds, and Sonja Distracts

    ·2h 7m
  74. 74

    #223 Seth & Drew Seal the Money in the Bank Deal on WWE Monday Night RAW

    ·1h 17m
  75. 75

    #29 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 16m
  76. 76

    #222 WWE Friday Night Smackdown Prepares for Money in the Bank

    ·2h 9m
  77. 77

    #221 WWE Monday Night Raw Gets Ready for Money in the Bank

    ·1h 29m
  78. 78

    #28 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 19m
  79. 79

    #220 Moxley Retains, The Queen Reigns, & New Day Regains

    ·2h 10m
  80. 80

    #219 WWE Monday Night Raw Continues LIVE + Los Ingobernables de WWE?!

    ·1h 40m
  81. 81

    #27 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 15m
  82. 82

    #218 Forgotten Sons Debut & Ronda Rousey Shoots on Fans

    ·2h 12m
  83. 83

    WrestleMania 36 Night Two Recap & Analysis

    ·1h 20m
  84. 84

    WrestleMania 36 Night One Recap & Analysis

    ·1h 14m
  85. 85

    #26 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 35m
  86. 86

    #216 Smackdown Goes Home to WrestleMania 36! +NXT +AEW

    ·2h 24m
  87. 87

    #215 WWE RAW Goes Home to WrestleMania 36

    ·1h 20m
  88. 88

    #25 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 22m
  89. 89

    #214 Vanguard-1 Joining The Inner Circle?! +NXT +Smackdown

    ·2h 4m
  90. 90

    #213 NXT Takeover on TV & Two Nights of WrestleMania

    ·1h 37m
  91. 91

    #24 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 26m
  92. 92

    #212 AEW Shows WWE How It’s Done!

    ·2h 3m
  93. 93

    #211 WWE RAW & WrestleMania with No Audience?!

    ·1h 39m
  94. 94

    #23 BWO Patron Mailbag

    ·1h 11m
  95. 95

    #210 Smackdown With No Audience?!

    ·2h 2m
  96. 96

    #209 Fallout from Elimination Chamber on WWE Monday Night Raw

    ·59m
  97. 97

    #208 WWE Elimination Chamber Recap & Analysis

    ·1h 3m
  98. 98

    #235 Raw Recap & WWE Backlash Preview

    ["Busted Wide Open #235 focuses on Raw's go-home show for Backlash and the Charlotte Flair conversation that dominated the episode.", "Nick Howell and Sir Ian Dangerous also open with New Japan Cup brackets, then move back to WWE booking across Raw, NXT, and SmackDown.", "The sharpest criticism comes from a 30-minute Charlotte-Asuka main event that ends with Nia Jax interference and an Asuka loss after Charlotte stays dominant for most of the match.", "The episode also covers Bobby Lashley and Drew McIntyre's crowded feud, Andrade winning the U.S.

    ·1h 18m·5 clips
  99. 99

    #234 NXT Takeover In Your House Preview & Pick’ems + AEW | Smackdown

    The hosts discuss AEW Dynamite and preview NXT's In Your House event.

    ·1h 58m
  100. 100

    #44 BWO Patron Mailbag

    Hosts Nick Howell and Sir Ian Dangerous introduce their mailbag episode, inviting patron questions about professional wrestling and sports entertainment.

    ·1h 19m
  101. 101

    #267 WWE Raw Recap + NJPW G1 Climax 30 Update

    ["Randy Orton disguises himself as a janitor, slips back into the arena, and raids the Legends Lounge after Drew McIntyre's Raw opening segment.", "Drew's open challenge brings back Bobby Roode, Keith Lee beats Andrade after Zelina Vega argues with him, and Kevin Owens faces Aleister Black after WWE strips away Black's entrance music and original presentation.", "Seth Rollins uses Murphy's texts with Aaliyah Mysterio to pull Rey and Dominic Mysterio deeper into the storyline, and the hosts spend time on whether the angle feels awkward or just soap-opera styled.", "Nick Howell and Sir Ian Dangerous also check in on G1 Climax 30, where they say every bracket is already busted."]

    Sep 30, 2020·1h 30m·5 clips
  102. 102

    #51 BWO Patron Mailbag

    Hidden gem

    Nick Howell picks SaniTy as his forgotten faction, with Eric Young, Killian Dain, and Nikki Cross as the version he would bring back from NXT.

    Sep 30, 2020·1h 31m·2 clips
  103. 103

    WWE Clash of Champions Recap & Analysis

    Hidden gem

    WWE Clash of Champions turns on a ladder match where Sami Zayn uses handcuffs, Jeff Hardy's ear gauge, and AJ Styles' own ladder climb to reclaim the Intercontinental Championship.

    Sep 28, 2020·1h 14m·2 clips
  104. 104

    #266 Going Home to WWE Clash of Champions + AEW | NXT

    Sep 26, 2020·2h 5m
  105. 105

    #265 WWE Raw Recap + NJPW G1 Update

    Busted Wide Open episode 265 reviews three hours of Monday Night Raw and previews discussion of the first two nights of New Japan’s G1.

    Sep 23, 2020·1h 54m·5 clips
  106. 106

    #50 BWO Patron Mailbag

    Hidden gem

    Will Smith's Captain Steven Hiller beats Pete "Maverick" Mitchell because he flies into an alien armada.

    Sep 23, 2020·1h 15m·2 clips
  107. 107

    #264 AEW | NXT | Smackdown Recap & Analysis

    Sep 20, 2020·1h 46m
  108. 108

    #49 BWO Patron Mailbag

    Sep 16, 2020·1h 25m
  109. 109

    #263 WWE Raw Recap + NJPW G1 Climax 30 Preview

    Sep 16, 2020·1h 31m
  110. 110

    #262 AEW | NXT | Smackdown with JB!

    Sep 14, 2020·1h 57m
  111. 111

    #261 WWE Monday Night Raw Recap

    Sep 9, 2020·1h 28m
  112. 112

    #48 BWO Patron Mailbag

    Sep 6, 2020·1h 26m
  113. 113

    #260 AEW All Out Preview & Pick’ems + NXT | Smackdown

    Sep 6, 2020·1h 51m
  114. 114

    AEW All Out Recap & Analysis

    Sep 6, 2020·1h 16m
  115. 115

    [UPDATE] A Message from Nick & Ian

    Sep 5, 2020·15m
  116. 116

    #259 WWE Raw Recap + NJPW Summer Struggle Results

    Sep 4, 2020·1h 23m
  117. 117

    WWE Payback 2020 Recap & Analysis

    Aug 31, 2020·1h 11m
  118. 118

    #47 BWO Patron Mailbag

    Aug 30, 2020·1h 27m
  119. 119

    #258 Going Home to WWE Payback + AEW | NXT

    Aug 30, 2020·2h 2m
  120. 120

    #257 SummerSlam Fallout & Bright Side of the Ring

    Aug 26, 2020·1h 51m
  121. 121

    WWE SummerSlam 2020 Recap & Analysis

    Aug 24, 2020·1h 16m
  122. 122

    NXT Takeover XXX Recap & Analysis

    Aug 23, 2020·55m
  123. 123

    #46 BWO Patron Mailbag

    Aug 23, 2020·1h 21m
  124. 124

    #256 NXT Takeover XXX + WWE SummerSlam Preview & Pick’ems

    Aug 23, 2020·1h 57m
  125. 125

    #255 WWE Raw Goes Home to SummerSlam 2020

    Aug 19, 2020·1h 26m
  126. 126

    #45 BWO Patron Mailbag

    Aug 16, 2020·1h 45m
  127. 127

    #254 AEW | NXT | Smackdown — Recap & Analysis

    Aug 16, 2020·1h 57m
  128. 128

    #253 WWE Monday Night Raw — Recap & Analysis

    Aug 12, 2020·1h 23m
  129. 129

    #44 BWO Patron Mailbag

    Aug 9, 2020·1h 19m
  130. 130

    #252 AEW | NXT | Smackdown

    Aug 9, 2020·1h 56m
  131. 131

    #251 WWE Raw Underground

    Aug 5, 2020·1h 25m
  132. 132

    #250 AEW, NXT, & Friday Night Smackdown

    Aug 2, 2020·1h 46m
  133. 133

    #249 WWE Raw Recap + IMPACT Wrestle House + NJPW Sengoku Lord

    Jul 29, 2020·1h 33m
  134. 134

    #42 BWO Patron Mailbag

    Jul 28, 2020·1h 14m
  135. 135

    #248 Eddie Kingston DEBUT, Karrion Kross DOMINATES, and Naomi Gets a Chance

    Jul 26, 2020·1h 57m
  136. 136

    #247 Extreme Rules Fallout on WWE Monday Night Raw + IMPACT Slammiversary Recap

    Jul 23, 2020·1h 22m
  137. 137

    WWE Horror Show at Extreme Rules 2020 Recap & Analysis

    Jul 21, 2020·1h 13m
  138. 138

    #41 BWO Patron Mailbag

    Jul 20, 2020·1h 6m
  139. 139

    #246 AEW Fight for the Fallen, NXT, Smackdown, & WWE Extreme Rules Preview & Pick’ems

    The hosts discuss recent events in professional wrestling, including Cesaro's victory and AEW vs NXT competition.

    Jul 19, 2020·1h 53m
  140. 140

    #245 WWE Monday Night Raw + NJPW New Japan Cup & Dominion

    Jul 15, 2020·1h 28m
  141. 141

    #40 BWO Patron Mailbag

    Jul 13, 2020·1h 22m
  142. 142

    #244 AEW Fyter Fest, NXT Championship, & Smackdown Karaoke Showdown

    Jul 12, 2020·2h
  143. 143

    #243 WWE Monday Night Raw Recap + NJPW New Japan Cup Analysis

    Jul 8, 2020·1h 30m
  144. 144

    #39 BWO Patron Mailbag

    Jul 5, 2020·1h 22m
  145. 145

    #242 AEW Fyter Fest, NXT Great American Bash, & Friday Night Smackdown

    Jul 5, 2020·1h 56m
  146. 146

    #241 WWE Monday Night Raw + Bright Side of the Ring

    Jul 1, 2020·1h 12m
  147. 147

    #240 Going Home to AEW Fyter Fest + NXT | Smackdown

    Jun 28, 2020·1h 54m
  148. 148

    #38 BWO Patron Mailbag

    Jun 28, 2020·59m
  149. 149

    #239 WWE Monday Night Raw + NJPW New Japan Cup UPDATES!

    Jun 24, 2020·1h 14m
  150. 150

    #37 BWO Patron Mailbag

    Jun 22, 2020·1h 17m