Episode Overview

Podcast: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Episode: Postgame Show: Chris And Zas Are Going To Wrestle
Date: February 17, 2026

Theme/Purpose:
In this lively postgame segment, Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, Chris Cody, Greg Cody, and others discuss the anxiety and mental health pressures facing modern Olympians, particularly in the age of social media. The conversation naturally pivots to the lighthearted anticipation of Chris Cody and Zas’s upcoming pro wrestling training session. The episode neatly straddles serious discussions about athlete well-being and the show's signature brand of irreverent banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Pressure Cooker of Olympic Competition (00:32–06:56)

• Empathy for Ilya Malinin:
  Dan brings up the emotional fallout from Olympic skater Ilya Malinin’s disappointing performance, focusing on the crushing “once-every-four-years” stakes for Olympians.

  • "Man, you wait four years to do something, the degree of difficulty is such that you're landing on a razor blade on ice in order to be perfect." – Dan Le Batard (00:43)

• Unimaginable Pressure and Perfection:
  The hosts riff on how tiny missteps can mean going from favorite to also-ran. Greg Cody notes:

  • "Sometimes the difference between a gold medal and fifth place is a split second, literally a fraction of a second or one or two points." – Greg Cody (02:10)

• Mental Health in the Social Media Era:
  Dan reflects on the generational divide, acknowledging his limited understanding of modern athletes’ social-media-fueled stress:

  • "I don't think I understand what it is to be a 19 year old addicted to social media, to have that as what is your feedback loop." – Dan Le Batard (04:10)
  • They discuss how the desire for validation and minute-by-minute exposure drastically amplify self-doubt, especially after failure.

• Resilience Amid Scoreboard Culture:
  The panel highlights how negative social media comments can easily overshadow positive feedback—a pressure doubled for female sportswriters due to online misogyny.

  • "If they get one comment that's critical in a way that feels really, really personal, it sticks with them." – Greg Cody (05:28)
  • Complete avoidance isn’t always possible, since negative commentary often makes mainstream news (06:26).

2. Wrestlemania Antics: Chris and Zas’s Wrestling Training (06:56–08:54)

• Setting the Scene:
  The mood shifts when the show pivots to Chris Cody and Zas prepping for a wrestling bootcamp—a nod to WWE’s Miami event.

  • "We're gonna train to be a pro wrestler tomorrow... Our boy Domino, he's gonna meet us at the training facility tomorrow. They got the ring and everything." – Zas (07:06)

• Handling Wrestling Jitters and Aches:
  The crew jokes about Zas’s bad back and the inevitable bumps and bruises from the ring.

  • "Great day to wake up with a bad back." – Chris Cody (07:41)
  • "The ropes are supposed to hurt, though. They're like wires." – Zas (08:29)

• Gear and Moves:
  Bemoaning wardrobe (singlet!) and classic wrestling moves, Chris asks if he’ll even be able to manage getting in and out of the ropes realistically.

  • "Can you guys tell me whether or not you think you guys would be good at jumping over rope... When you get slung against the rope?" – Chris Cody (08:07)

• Signature Show Laughter:
  Light teasing erupts over Greg Cody’s signature laugh and cough, with the crew suggesting he should make it his “top 10” catchphrase.

  • "It should be number 10. You really need to think about starting your top 10 with your catchphrase. Number 10 being just you coughing." – Chris Cody (08:44)

Notable Quotes

• Olympic Pressure & Perfection
  • "If you're stumbling, if you're imperfect, you're gonna finish eighth when you're the favorite. The amount of pressure... I would not ever want that kind of pressure on me." – Dan Le Batard (00:51)
• On Athlete Validation and Social Media
  • "It's the perpetual validation that we're all a little bit addicted to... I underestimate the perils of having your doubts voiced at every turn." – Dan Le Batard (02:59)
• Female Sportswriters' Perspective
  • "I've had many a female sportswriter tell me that they don't read online comments anymore because... if it's really, really personal, it sticks with them." – Greg Cody (05:28)
• Wrestling Excitement and Trepidation
  • "Don't worry about my gear. You'll see my gear tomorrow. And Domino is going to teach us some moves..." – Zas (07:30)
  • "I wanted to run in and do, like, the thing where I slide into the..." – Chris Cody (08:26)

Memorable Moments & Timestamps

• 01:56 – “I will never be as great at anything as this person is at figure skating because I would not want that size of pressure on me.” – Dan Le Batard
• 05:28 – Discussion of personal criticism and mental health for female sportswriters.
• 07:06 – Zas explains the upcoming wrestling training and jokes about wardrobe.
• 08:41 – Greg Cody’s signature laughing and coughing, sparking group laughter and ideas for his “Top 10.”

Conclusion

This episode underscores The Dan Le Batard Show’s special ability to tackle tough issues like mental health in elite sports, exploring the unique burdens of social media-age Olympians, while also celebrating the absurd joys of pro-wrestling antics. It’s an engaging mix of empathy, insight, and the kind of offbeat humor loyal listeners have come to love.