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Episode 4: The NFL Offseason Heats Up Here in Houston + WWE Elimination Chamber Recap
19 Plays3 months ago
Justin battles through illness to bring you the first ever Coastal Launch Sports SOLO talk! Justin focuses his efforts on the fallout of the NFL Combine, the latest in NFL trades and trade rumors, and a recap of this last weekend's WWE Elimination Chamber!
Also, the Tampa Bay Lightning have returned from the Olympic Break, and the latest on Team USA's chances in the WBC as cracks in the armor begin to show before first pitch THIS FRIDAY!
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Transcript
Introduction and Preview
00:00:01
Cody Atkinson
Hello and welcome to the Coltsalons Sports Talk. I'm Justin coming to you from the magic of Orlando, Florida. This week, it's just me as Cody is attending to a film of matter. But rest assured, he will be back be as we prepare you for the NFL free agency madness an inch ever closer to the craziness that is March Madness.
00:00:19
Cody Atkinson
But enough about this about next week. Let's get into this past week's action. Is your premier destination for the sports stories that move the needle from the national stage to the grid of the southeast?
00:00:31
Cody Atkinson
We're bridging the gap between R2, Space 6, and bringing you the sports stories that matter most to you. And today, i've got the I've got news from the NHL to the NFL Combine and wrapping up this past weekend's Elimination Chamber.
00:00:43
Cody Atkinson
So with the trajectory set, it's time to sit back, lock in, and get started with the
NHL Focus: Tampa Bay Lightning
00:00:48
Cody Atkinson
rundown. This is the Coastal Launch, and we're ready for liftoff here on Episode 4. So with that said, this is the rundown. Real quick, guys, let's lock in real quick with it.
00:01:00
Cody Atkinson
Quick stories, NHL is back from international break. The Lightning this week got started with three games. We went one and two this week. We went up against Toronto, got the dub over there in Toronto, and then ran into truly two buzz saws this week in Buffalo and Carolina.
00:01:19
Cody Atkinson
Honestly, it wasn't from a last scoring that we saw the Lightning drop these two games. It was more that the Buffalo Sabres And the Carolina Hurricanes are just that insanely hot right now coming off the international break.
00:01:32
Cody Atkinson
We put up a couple of goals in each game, and it just was the defense that just kind of let us down. The Buffalo game was off of a back from the Toronto game that we saw Andre Vasilevsky not play in the second game.
00:01:45
Cody Atkinson
Kind of expected us to drop that that second game there. But really get back on our feet against Carolina with Vasilevsky back in net and just everything kind of settling back in. And that's the case.
00:01:56
Cody Atkinson
But we looked to this week as we get going with a couple more games this week, we should see the return of Abby in a more permanent scenario as we get going again. And then obviously everyone kind of settling in as we get closer and closer the NHL trade deadline that will pop up later this week.
00:02:16
Cody Atkinson
Games this week will be, as I'm pulling up the schedule for you guys right now, we're going to be tomorrow night as I'm recording this. We've got Minnesota. Thursday night, we've got Winnipeg. Saturday, we have Toronto again, and then Buffalo back home.
00:02:32
Cody Atkinson
Or sorry, on the road. We've got a couple of games that will definitely be worth noting as we get closer and closer to Stanley Cup playoff a couple months. these These games against some Minnesota is going to huge.
00:02:44
Cody Atkinson
And, of course, Buffalo will be huge as we talk about the Atlantic Division going forward. But definitely truly expect to see Lightning kind of back into where they were.
00:02:56
Cody Atkinson
before the international break, the team that was on five leading into it all. Obviously on this podcast, we talked about the the winter hockey over here in Tampa. And so we'll definitely, I fully expect us to come back to to where we were before all the international break stuff happened.
00:03:13
Cody Atkinson
Kucherov still looked good, right in point to get back in healthy. Victor had no course also to get back in healthy. We saw a lot of that definitely transpire as we got through the international games.
00:03:24
Cody Atkinson
So definitely look to see this team get healthy, maybe see them make a couple moves to better some of the lower wings or not wings, lower lines that we have on the offense. And then I think you bolster the back end of the defense a little bit as well.
00:03:37
Cody Atkinson
No names for you guys, but definitely see the Lightning being buyers at the trade deadline here in a couple of days.
World Baseball Classic Updates
00:03:44
Cody Atkinson
So definitely look to see Breezeball and John Cooper get together and get the get the guys going in the right direction.
00:03:51
Cody Atkinson
Going to shift over now from obviously one international break to another. Team USA update for World Baseball Classic. Obviously, the World Baseball Classic getting started this week with the games again, and then Team USA getting started on Friday.
00:04:06
Cody Atkinson
Interesting news that we got last week. Tariq Skubal from the Detroit Tigers are only going one game as we get into the international pool starting up here soon. Big controversy over why even come in to play one game and that one game king is great Britain.
00:04:22
Cody Atkinson
Not really a game that we need Tariq Skubal for. I think Cody and I talked about it a couple weeks ago on the pod that we definitely see steam the U.S. team rolling its way through the stage with maybe a couple of hiccups opportunity against Mexico. But Great Britain, definitely not the team that we need Cy Young winning Tariq Skubal to pitch against.
00:04:45
Cody Atkinson
Nevertheless, we're going to see pitch in that game. The news that I saw before logging on here was that it's going to about 55 to 60 pitches as he's not truly stretched out and ready to go for the regular season as Ty Grisky, closer and closer opening day.
00:05:02
Cody Atkinson
he thought I saw a and TikTok or a reel, whatever you platform you guys are on today, talking about why and the reason why he was doing it. And a lot of it is that he's not stretched out and ready to go yet.
00:05:15
Cody Atkinson
And that if this game was the middle of summer, kind of how the NHL did the all-star break for for international play, that's where he would have been able to go. so two or three, maybe even four games if necessary.
00:05:27
Cody Atkinson
He doesn't expect he'll come in there and throw the high 90s, low hundred s velocity that he is known for as he gets as he would be in the middle of the season. Obviously, a lot of fans speculating that this is more so from a contract perspective.
00:05:41
Cody Atkinson
going to be coming into a contract year Obviously, free agency in baseball is huge right now. A big chance for players make a lot of money, something that I'm sure that Cody and I will talk a whole lot about on this podcast as we go through not just this season, but going into next offseason, we're getting more and more like a lockout will happen next year.
00:06:00
Cody Atkinson
So what does that look like? Do we start talking about a salary cap? Do we start talking about players, you know, locking out to where they don't want a salary cap? What does that look like? Obviously, Tarek Scoble is going to be a big player in that, where he is someone that is going to garner a lot of money for you to see, whether that's with the Tigers or you talk about maybe another arm going to LA or New York, whatever it may be. Does it get dealt halfway through the season as a Tiger?
00:06:26
Cody Atkinson
so what does it look like? Obviously, respect the hustle, respect the grind. You know, go get your back, do what you got to do. But how many times do you get a chance to really go out there, pitch for your country, put your colors on your back, and really go out there and show off, especially as we just came off the heels of the men's women's U.S. hockey team going and winning and beating Canada, beating our arch rival.
00:06:47
Cody Atkinson
Obviously, a ton of patriotism coming off of that. Aaron Judge today talking about in the team meeting that they're all hyped up. They're all ready to go off of this. this victory ah in my last week.
00:06:58
Cody Atkinson
So, you know, I, I, I think we can all say that we're disappointed in Scoobble, but we also can understand where he's coming from as we, as he tries to go out there get his back. So obviously go out there, do what you gotta to do against Grayburn and shut down Grayburn for hopefully four or five innings, whatever it takes for fifty those 55, 60 pitches. Maybe he gets into the sixth or seventh round before he heads back the spring training to get ready to get going for this regular season in Detroit.
00:07:25
Cody Atkinson
Other news that we got this week, remember Carroll playing this year, dealing with a broken bone. Didn't see what specific bone it was. It sounded like it was something to do with the hand as he took a a hit by pitch during spring or during batting practice, spring training.
00:07:40
Cody Atkinson
Definitely a big loss for for Team USA there. But I think there's enough enough depth in our position players that I don't think we're going to necessarily miss him too much, but definitely a big presence in terms of how he runs the bases.
00:07:52
Cody Atkinson
What is what does fielding looks like? So definitely something someone that's going to be missed, but I think we have enough in the bag of tricks for Team USA to really get going and and be ready to go. And then in one other replacement that we saw, Ryan Yarborough, former Tampa Bay right now, a New York Yankee, replacing Joe Ryan as he's dealing with a lower backstring.
00:08:11
Cody Atkinson
So definitely someone that's going to bolster the the the rotation and maybe even the bullpen, depending on how they want to use Yarborough. its Definitely someone that the Rays used in the rotation a couple of seasons ago didn't really fall in two months last year when he was in New York.
00:08:24
Cody Atkinson
ah but someone that can definitely give you quality innings, quality outings, someone that can really just go out there, throw a ton of strikes, get out there, get some guys out. So whatever it's got to take, I think this is a tournament that really shines in terms of how can we get out there? How can pitch? How can we hold off some these more dangerous lineups?
00:08:42
Cody Atkinson
We talked about the Dominican Republic. We talked about, you know, team of those lineups. We talked about Mexico really being a sleeping giant. They did a lot of last run. So what does that look like going forward? i think The way that this rotation is set up, you have a Clayton Kershaw coming in there. This is his last time that he's going to pitch as he gets into retirement, obviously wishing him nothing but the best in his retirement years.
00:09:04
Cody Atkinson
So someone that really wants to come out, they put on the stars and strikes one last time, get that gold medal one last time. Someone, you know, you got other pitchers in there. You're talking about a Paul Skeens that's going up there lead the rotation.
00:09:17
Cody Atkinson
So there's just this, as we talked about, like this team is stacked top to bottom. ready to go for for day one as we get started into the gold medal game, hopefully, here in a couple weeks as we get closer and closer
NFL Combine Insights
00:09:30
Cody Atkinson
to opening day. But we'll definitely have more in terms of opening day for you guys here soon as we get more and more in March and closer to April for the regular season to start.
00:09:42
Cody Atkinson
Moving right along for you guys here, that actually concludes the rundown, sorry. We're going to get into our first big topic of the week. But I do apologize for being out. Obviously, this will be a much shorter episode, but trying to get get you guys as much information as possible, well just being me today.
00:10:00
Cody Atkinson
But something that big that happened over the weekend, the NFL combine kicked off the the yearly scouting combine. Take it or leave it for what this but this event is It's becoming more, if you're a bigger baseball fan, it's becoming more like the winter meetings for the NFL.
00:10:14
Cody Atkinson
This is more for the general managers, the managers, agencies that the players could represent to really get out there, you know, shake hands with the guys, start making some moves before everything gets legalized in terms of the NFL league year. I'm obviously looking forward to a week from today, the legal legal tampering window begins on March 9th.
00:10:37
Cody Atkinson
We all know that, especially at the combine, we're going to be talking about contracts, extensions. We're going to be talking about trades. We're going talk about free agents, whether or not it's legal or not, you know what's happening.
00:10:49
Cody Atkinson
I wouldn't be surprised that as we get closer to the league year, I believe its that Friday that follows. So that would be 13th or 14th. Immediately, the moment the league year rolled over and free agency opens, we're going to see a million tweets. We're going to see a million reports. I wouldn't um i would also imagine over the next you know half that we're going to see nothing but speculation coming off ah off of the vine.
00:11:13
Cody Atkinson
But for for now, obviously, we have a little bit of news, but let's talk about the combine real quick. um As I mentioned, the players more so using this for meetings, more so using it for the light workouts, the 40 times, the lifting weights, the really the minor workouts. You're not seeing a lot of players go out there and throw. out You're not seeing a lot of receivers out there run routes, especially the ones that know their first or second round talent.
00:11:36
Cody Atkinson
This is more for those guys that are coming. You're looking more so your fifth or sixth, those day three and day four, or sorry, no day four, but your eighth day two, early day three,
00:11:48
Cody Atkinson
that are trying to move up in the draft class to make their money and get drafted higher. From a little bit close to home, Casey Concepcion, the wide receiver from Texas A&M, had a good weekend.
00:12:00
Cody Atkinson
The press conference, take it or leave for what it is. He deals with a stuttering issue. Caught a lot of flack from the national media in terms of the how he kind of handled it. a couple of weeks he's come out and spoke about how he wants to advocate more for the for players and and individuals that deal with these speech impediment.
00:12:19
Cody Atkinson
So definitely, you know, kudos to him as he, you know, he stands on his business. He stands for his truth when it comes to who he is and what he wants to be about going forward in his professional career.
00:12:31
Cody Atkinson
Got nothing but love for Casey Concepcion there. Hopefully, you know, he gets to a good situation in the NFL bag. It's a shot to shine who he is. We'd love to see him in Houston. I think he'd a great weapon for Houston.
00:12:43
Cody Atkinson
I think wide receiver room gets a little too crowded. So I don't think you see Casey Concepcion get drafted to Houston, but no matter where he goes, he's an instant playmaker, someone that's obviously going to get in there and be number one hit. I think he's someone that you look at almost like a Devon A chain a couple years ago, also coming out of A&M, someone that got drafted in the late round, someone that wasn't really looked at in terms of an NFL prospect or day one running back right away.
00:13:07
Cody Atkinson
but obviously the moment he got that ball in the NFL, he never looked back. He he took care of his opportunities as he got it. And I think Casey Concepcion is another one you're going to see him that third or fourth round, maybe high fifth round, unless everyone, you know, bites on who he is going forward.
00:13:24
Cody Atkinson
Maybe he can sneak into the high third or at least or late seconds, but I doubt that I think he fits more in that late third, early fourth round. But I think he's the that the moment he gets an opportunity, you're going to see someone special on whatever NFL he's with.
00:13:38
Cody Atkinson
Other news coming out of the combine, obviously we saw a lot of guys running 40s, take your leaver for what the 40s are, honestly. A lot of it is like you're not in pads, you're not in cleats.
00:13:50
Cody Atkinson
it It truly is just you know how quickly can you download down the sideline in the least amount of gear as possible. So obviously a lot of reporters are gonna be like, this guy is the fastest, this guy is the slowest, it's a disappointment from him, it's excitement from this guy.
00:14:06
Cody Atkinson
Everyone's gonna use whatever buzzwords they're going to use. Ultimately what matters most is when you get players the ball, what can they do with the ball on the field? So I think you look back, if you truly want to dive into what you're going to get in the NFL, you go back and you need to watch tape and really see who these guys are when they get the ball, whether it's in, you know, defenses that are extremely on top of them. Are they playing SEC? Are they playing Big Ten ball?
00:14:31
Cody Atkinson
Even some, you know, competitive ACC ball. What does that look like in terms of translating to the NFL? So I don't think there's a lot to really make out of the combine. The only one that I made note of was Diego Pavia was among the few to actually throw.
00:14:45
Cody Atkinson
This weekend, some throws looked underwhelming. Some of them looked okay. I wouldn't say he shined for his momentum, especially being one of the few quarterbacks to have to get out there and throw.
00:14:55
Cody Atkinson
I think you you see him kind of remain where he was in terms of draft stock. I don't see Diego Pavia being a first-round pick. I don't think any other quarterback besides Fernando Mendoza is the number one pick or first-round pick, sorry.
00:15:09
Cody Atkinson
I think you see Diego slipping to probably where Shador went last year, maybe a Dylan Gabriel, where you talk about a third round pick, maybe even a fourth round pick, ah kind of like where you saw Jackson Dartland for the Giants last year.
00:15:23
Cody Atkinson
i think you see, you know, anything come out of this, maybe his pro day will show what didn't get to do it at the combine. Obviously, Dylan, two his boys in Vandy will obviously be a big, says they have that timing and that rapport with each other.
00:15:38
Cody Atkinson
So we'll see what that looks like for Diego moving forward. But that's kind of my only note coming out of the combine besides what we talked about with Concepcion.
Houston Texans Strategy
00:15:46
Cody Atkinson
Obviously, before we talked about legal tampering opening on the um March 9th.
00:15:50
Cody Atkinson
So with that, we did get to see some trades and some discussions happen. Bigger news, I think, outside of just the Browns and just being the Browns, I think the the big release for Kobe and I is Texans are getting active right now in trading and getting the roster where it needs to be before we even get to free agency.
00:16:11
Cody Atkinson
Two big moves today. start of the day off trading Titus Howard, offensive tackle, for a fifth-round pick from Cleveland. This made a ton of sense for me.
00:16:21
Cody Atkinson
Made a ton of sense when I broke it down for Cody. I think where the techs are at, we are truly in a position that we need to free up as much salary cap as possible. Titus Howard obviously you going to garner a lot of money. There was a lot of news coming out of his camp that he was going to look at getting north of $2 million, dollars and I think Titus just isn't in a position where that's something that you want to spend.
00:16:46
Cody Atkinson
While, yes, he was a very versatile player, someone that played multiple positions on the offensive line for the Texans over the last couple of seasons, um obviously put up really good numbers here in terms of pass pro, especially once you threw in a Trent Brown and, you know, solidified it with Ariane Teresri.
00:17:07
Cody Atkinson
I just don't really see you know, the direction, you know, paying that money for for him for Titus, just didn't make sense. If you go out there, get some bargain guys, get maybe some older guys that are looking for one or two more contracts before they retire.
00:17:20
Cody Atkinson
i think that makes the most sense for the Texans. They need to funny wisely. They don't have a lot of money as it is stands right now, but i think there's some cap manipulation. i fully expect to see us release Joe Mixon before the lead year rolled over.
00:17:35
Cody Atkinson
or whenever that cutoff is, like around May 1st or whatever may be before many Canton OTAs get started to save some money on cap space. Obviously, we're going to talk more about Joe Mixon in the running back room here in a second.
00:17:48
Cody Atkinson
But I think in terms we're at on the offensive line, I think it's very obvious that the only players that are really safe on the other line is Ariante Urseri. As we go in there, that we we have our left tackle in the future. Someone that's going to be a rock to to protect CJ Stroud.
00:18:04
Cody Atkinson
I think it's a fair that we're going to spend a lot of money this season on offensive tackles, but we'll talk about that more in here in a second. going to the second trade real quick. Juice Scruggs, another offensive lineman, someone that's more so just been in a platoon role, backup guy, traded today for a fourth or along with a fourth and seventh pick for David Montgomery.
00:18:26
Cody Atkinson
Obviously, we knew David and Montgomery over the weekend. He requested a trade, wants to be the lead back again. Obviously, Jimmy or Gifts. became a really special player up there in Detroit this past season, Alabama running back, obviously deert ah deservingly so. It's someone that, you know, I'm a big believer and in Jamar Gibbs, but I think ultimately where we stand with David Montgomery is a rational back.
00:18:52
Cody Atkinson
Honestly, he hasn't seen the over the last two years. he He has kind of taken that back swirl to Jameer Gibbs more of the power from back the position that you see and the within the 20s, someone that's going to give you those hard, critical yards and allow your speed back, your more dynamic back to kick out, do what they do best, receive the ball, catch it out of backfield, do whatever they got to do.
00:19:15
Cody Atkinson
think ultimately what you saw from David Montgomery the last couple of seasons with Jim Merrick Gibbs, I think you get to see that again with the Texans. You get prepared with Woody Marks coming into it here, someone who's going to be trained with the Texans.
00:19:30
Cody Atkinson
consistent for the entire time. It's like bigger results from from Woody Marks as he was second year. But I think David Murray only makes it better terms of it.
00:19:41
Cody Atkinson
Low cap hit, I saw he was due $6 million. dollars Obviously, I think Nick Casario will spend some money and locking him in for maybe a second year as he as he gets over to Houston and talks with us.
00:19:54
Cody Atkinson
So I fully accept to see that lock down the the running back room. I think this moves us out of the conversation of Kenneth Walker. I think if if you see any running back movement, I think it's going to be in the draft.
00:20:05
Cody Atkinson
Cody and I were talking today, you know, do you go up and get love for Notre Dame? You know, what is the asking price for that to move up? You know, where does he fall? Where, you know, how much is it going to cost actually to get there? Are you trading multiple first rounds? Do you really believe that we love is that type of guy that he's going to running about the future?
00:20:23
Cody Atkinson
So does he get to come in there? Sip off on David Montgomery. Share the background backfield. What does that look like? Ultimately, I'm not 100% sure. i think, you know, Cody mentioned a couple them that I don't have in front of me right now.
00:20:36
Cody Atkinson
so Some guys that you can see on the later rounds that could end up being bigger names in the future. Maybe that's your ah guy that's like a David Montgomery to pair up with Woody Marks in the future. Maybe Woody Marks becomes the back of the future. We'll kind of as we get going into the season. But I think where the room is all i think you kind of feel good about running with david montgomery woody marks and maybe even jawar jordan being your third option there
00:21:10
Cody Atkinson
um so going forward um and just in terms of free agency you know what is the the question i'm kind of leave you guys with is do you see the texans going all out or all in on offensive line and free agency and allow your draft to be truly skilled players Obviously, we know how dangerous the the defense and the how stacked the defense is. So i don't think we need to spend a lot of money or a lot draft picks on the defensive side of the ball.
00:21:38
Cody Atkinson
I can see us going cheap, go out there, get ah another cheap defensive tackle, kind of what we saw with Tommy Togiai, Fatou Kofsky, you name it, the the defensive tackle routine over the last you know half of the season and into the playoffs, those guys were rocks for the defense at all.
00:21:57
Cody Atkinson
Obviously, when you have Daniel Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. on both sides of you, you don't have to do too much on the defensive tackle side. But I'd like to see us kind of show that up, whether that's cheap and free agency, or maybe you'll get a rookie to so really stand in there be a run stopper.
00:22:12
Cody Atkinson
But let the linebackers come in and help you. You know, you have some options but when you when you get to the defensive side of the ball. think I really want to see us spend money on offensive line. we've We've been connected with Cade Mays. We've been connected with Tyler Lindobom from Baltimore.
00:22:28
Cody Atkinson
i think there's some names out there that makes a whole lot of sense for Houston. I think when you talk about where this team is right now, we are just an offensive line from from an AFC championship game this year, probably even a Super Bowl appearance. you know Would we have been successful against Seattle?
00:22:45
Cody Atkinson
Not 100% sure. But with where we're at in terms of a franchise, you have a window open right now with this defense that you have because this defense can win any game that you put them out there against.
00:23:02
Cody Atkinson
But that's what I'm going you guys with now. Cody and I will pick up next week more on this free agency buzz for the NFL.
WWE Elimination Chamber Highlights
00:23:10
Cody Atkinson
A lot to talk about, not just with the Texans, but the entire league.
00:23:13
Cody Atkinson
A lot a lot of to look forward to in terms of that. We talked more about Mark's Founders and all that. But the last topic I want to talk to you guys about this week The Elimination Chamber happened, obviously. I gave a big breakdown last week on where everyone's at, where the storylines are. Just wanted to go to recap for you guys, just the winners and losers from this past weekend.
00:23:35
Cody Atkinson
Very similar, I'm going to do the storylines, and then we'll type into the the Elimination Chamber back itself. Two storylines to really talk through that carried through from last week. The Masked Men storyline that's been tormenting the Division rigged Fell flat. Obviously, Cody and I talked about how it was awesome for it to be bad funny to really build up this WrestleMania match, whether it's with the Paul brothers, l LA Knight, whoever it would be with.
00:24:05
Cody Atkinson
So what does that look like going forward? Ended up being a bunch of randos from Seth Rollins' role of wrestling that he has, which is a little underwhelming, but ultimately led to, and spoilers for a later conversation in this episode, ended up being Seth Rollins himself that appeared at the Elimination Chamber and has really been tormenting the vision for the last couple of weeks, ever since the Rumble ended.
00:24:31
Cody Atkinson
So interesting where that storyline goes from here. Obviously, a lot of implications going into Monday night. You know, what does that look like? What does it look like on the mania? You know, is that, you know, Seth Rollins versus Logan Paul, Seth Rollins versus Austin Theory, you know, is Braun Breaker going to get healthy enough before Mania that have a Mania match with Seth, what does that look like?
00:24:54
Cody Atkinson
What does the heavyweight championship look like with Seth, Seth with Roman Reigns and CM Punk? What does that look like going forward? Because obviously Seth has history with both those guys, especially going back to WrestleMania last year.
00:25:07
Cody Atkinson
So what does that look like going forward? Not 100% sure um my end. Obviously, you know, maybe have a little bit more for you guys here in a couple weeks to get closer and closer to Mania. see more of Roman and Punk together and understanding what their feud is going be more and more about.
00:25:22
Cody Atkinson
So definitely tune in. Let's see what this math man stuff ends up being with Seth. You know, what does Seth have to say? Obviously being hurt by the division, quote unquote, from from a story perspective. And then next I'm going to talk about before we dive into the chamber matches themselves.
00:25:38
Cody Atkinson
There was a mystery crate. We didn't talk about this last week. There's been a mystery crate that's been hopping back and forth between SmackDown and Raw and vice versa. And what was it going to be? Was it going to be a celebrity? And so is it going want to be something that you know has implications for Chamber? Does it have implications for Mania? Instead being Dan Housen, who is more of a a comedy bit. We talked about Kit Wilson ah obviously last week being a comedy bit.
00:26:05
Cody Atkinson
He got up with Obafim the last couple of weeks. Dan Housen, I'm not super familiar with, i but came from AEW and more more so the indie scene. Definitely just a straight comedy bit.
00:26:17
Cody Atkinson
a From what I'm reading online, he's very much known for these comedy style shows and this bit of being almost undead in a way and just kind of being super cringy.
00:26:30
Cody Atkinson
Has a catchphrase that I didn't have written down. Like if I'm not super familiar with him, but it'll be very interesting to see who WWE paired them up with. Could it be Kolden with Kit Wilson, R-Truth, The Miz, whoever it may be?
00:26:44
Cody Atkinson
we're More of the mystery character or the comedy characters that WWE has kicking around. So it'll be it'll be interesting. Obviously, when you put someone and you introduce someone like an Indies character here with Dan Housen, had a major PLE right before WrestleMania.
00:27:01
Cody Atkinson
Obviously, you expect the crowd be huge, and it wasn't. seemed very kind of poorly received by the crowd in Chicago, and I think that leads more to Everyone's been waiting for Chris Jericho. Everyone's been waiting for a big a big you know return. There's Kevin Owens.
00:27:18
Cody Atkinson
We talked about the Grande Americano stuff last week with Chad Gable coming back. So more and more people want to see these guys come back. And so when you get an appearance from a new guy and you're not super familiar with them, because not a big name coming from these other brands showing up, that's when you're going to start running into some poorly received storylines or poorly appearances.
00:27:40
Cody Atkinson
So hopefully WWE can write them into some storylines pretty quick, get them involved and show us why this is important and why this is big to the company and big to storylines, especially as we move closer and closer to WrestleMania.
00:27:51
Cody Atkinson
So we'll see over the next couple of book him. Be interested to see where he ends up, whether it's SmackDown and he gets paired up with a Kit Wilson, or maybe he does Monday Night Raw and he paired up with an R-Truth.
00:28:03
Cody Atkinson
So we'll definitely see over that couple of weeks where he kind of fits in. Hopefully creative is already up and ready to go for him. and we and we get into the thick of why this was important enough to show us at Elimination Chamber.
00:28:17
Cody Atkinson
So those are the two um storylines as we got into it. Now let's break down the Chamber itself. Starting with the Championship matches, AJ Lee takes the women's IC title as I predicted off of Becky Lynch.
00:28:32
Cody Atkinson
match was i was I was talking to my boy over here when the match was happening. It was just okay. I think this was the better of the two championship matches. And I think it was more so because creative was in a position that kind of was able to show off AJ Lee.
00:28:48
Cody Atkinson
Becky Lynch showed her off really well, put her over very well. As we move close to WrestleMania, I fully expect to see these two pop up in creative going forward, whether it is a rematch, whether it's some sort of stipulation match at WrestleMania.
00:29:03
Cody Atkinson
I think they're too big of personalities to not have WrestleMania going after through each other. So hopefully we see them pop up. Becky Lynch popping off on Twitter again over the weekend, playing this on our typical you know loser Becky type of mentality.
00:29:17
Cody Atkinson
But she's been so good in this role that it's so good to see her kind of continue even after losing the title. Very clean. She tapped out to the Black Widow submission hold.
00:29:29
Cody Atkinson
So we'll see where she goes from here. But I definitely, like I said, I fully accept to see some sort of WrestleMania moment between these two. And that's kind of the position. it's the you know there's the two matches between Wrestle Palooza and uh Survivor Series and now obviously you get Elimination Chamber so I think you get a thing with their storyline at Wrestlemania big moment as we get the the women's IC kind of moving forward into the future and I think you can really start building up Becky Lynch to go back into the main card you see AJ Lee get more settled into the singles matches and then you kind of see them drift off into their own strength I think you know AJ Lee in the future
00:30:07
Cody Atkinson
drops that belt to to someone on the main card, and then that's where you have to resubmit a lien to the main card scene. But i think this has done tremendous amount of help for Becky as she closer and closer to going back to the main card, but she's really helped to make the Women's International Intercontinental Championship relevant, which I think is important for that for that title.
00:30:27
Cody Atkinson
Obviously, I think the the Women's US s Championship over on SmackDown has kind of suffered the same kind of fate that the IC title has been in. So hopefully we get to see the the same type of push for the women's U.S. championship on SmackDown, the same way that the IC title has that on Raw with AJ Lee and Becky Lynch.
00:30:46
Cody Atkinson
And even before that with Maxine Dupree. Obviously, she's tied up now with Natty, Natty Neinhardt and all that stuff. So definitely a good pedigree coming off of the women's and IC title going forward to Mania.
00:30:59
Cody Atkinson
And then to the other championship match of the night, was CM Punk versus Finn Balor. As I thought about last week, WWE kind of shot themselves in the foot over this one with already booking Roman Reigns against CM Punk for WrestleMania.
00:31:17
Cody Atkinson
Whatever that you know entails, whether it's because of a money station ticket selling, whatever it is with when it turns WrestleMania that you just had to get that match out there now and really start promoting Punk versus Roman.
00:31:30
Cody Atkinson
That's what really led to this downfall. and And what I wrote down for this match was it was also just fine. It was mid and the lack of creative or lack of excitement came from creative. So we had to push Roman and Punk immediately after the rumble took all momentum away from Finn Balor, who deserved a decent push into this title match, whether that's, you know, to build storylines against the judgment day, you know, judgment day breaking, excuse me, a breaking down, doing whatever it is going forward with judgment day.
00:31:58
Cody Atkinson
So what does that look like for for Finn Balor now, obviously losing? me Which was, like I said, and in a match. Sharpshooter moment. The reversal that Punk had was really cool. But ultimately, the moments just weren't there for this match for me to be memorable.
00:32:11
Cody Atkinson
The only thing that I'm thinking out of it besides that reversal was Punk's entrance to the iconic 90s, 80s into the 90s Jordan era. Jordan era bold.
00:32:23
Cody Atkinson
He had the full-on entrance. The announcer came up this whole bit. Punk looked incredible, had the whole city of Chicago sports team theme going forward. for He had the Blackhawks logo, he had the Jordan boots on, the the red the red force or red Jordan ones looked incredible.
00:32:41
Cody Atkinson
Fender looked great in the match as well, had his his song going. So ultimately the intros were great, match was just fine. It was just so evident that Punk was gonna win this match that it took any sort of excitement, any sort of drama.
00:32:56
Cody Atkinson
going the into the actual match itself, just get all the way. And unfortunately, that sucks for Finn Balor. But I think going forward, Finn Balor, very evidently, the the end of the judgment day is is imminent, whether it's because of Finn and JD, or it is fully Finn Balor versus Dominic Costerio going into the IC title match. I think that's an idea to match with Penta. I think Finn or Dominic holds on it.
00:33:24
Cody Atkinson
And they you build up the the Dom versus Finn storyline going into WrestleMania. Ultimately, you go ahead and you take the belt off of Dom at that point. Something that I've been talking to my boy over here about is that Dom deserves that main card. So I think it's very evident that you can see that going into this year.
00:33:41
Cody Atkinson
You can get a Dom versus Punk at some point, and you see a Dom probably take the strap off of Punk. And going into the maybe into next year, get ready for that WrestleMania push. Maybe it is the Money in the Bank. Maybe it is the Royal Rumble.
00:33:54
Cody Atkinson
whatever it is, I think Dom is ready for that main card push. And hopefully it's without the judgment day. So that wraps up the championship matches. Now onto the actual chamber matches and stuff.
00:34:04
Cody Atkinson
Once again, I'm gonna start off with the women's side of things, which was a banger of a match. Ultimately, Rhea Ripley ended winning. And it's now gonna go on to face Jade Cargill at WrestleMania 42. A couple notes that I wrote down.
00:34:18
Cody Atkinson
Kiana James had an MVP type performance starting the match off with Tiffy. um tiffany stratt someone that like i talked about last week was more of a surprise into beating charlotte flair sending charlotte to a depressive episode on smackdown so what does that look like tiana james looked incredible in the match i think that she had excellent moments with just about everything in that match which I think is submitting her or would eventually be a main card push. Maybe she's away from Julia on SmackDown.
00:34:50
Cody Atkinson
And now she really started tying into her own storyline. What that is for the women women's U.S.H.I.P., which I think she'd be fantastic for. And then, you know, maybe sometime in the year, next year or two, you really see her pop up in the main card scene going after Rhea Ripley and Alexa Bliss, you know, Tiffany Stratton from May B on SmackDown.
00:35:09
Cody Atkinson
I think the the future for that brand when it comes to the women is stacked. Apologies as I am getting over it to myself. um
00:35:24
Cody Atkinson
Other a note that I wrote down, Tiffy continues to shine as she's come back from injury. Obviously not winning this weekend, being the final two against Rhea Ripley to Rhea obviously end up winning the match.
00:35:37
Cody Atkinson
Now has no clear path to WrestleMania. I'm very interested to see what creative does with Tiffy going forward now, because Tiffy obviously being a superstar had the belt for pretty much the entire year last year from Mania to just before Survivor Series, losing it to Jay Cargill before getting some very deserved time off.
00:35:58
Cody Atkinson
More importantly, what does her character look like? She's had some tweener moments since coming back that she doesn't necessarily look like a babyface, but hasn't fully turned heel yet.
00:36:08
Cody Atkinson
Some very kiss to see if she goes back to her NXT personas and goes back heel, I heard a lot about her her heel persona and how she's much better as a heel.
00:36:20
Cody Atkinson
So I'll be very curious to see if that's what WWE is building up to. And maybe not having the clear path to WrestleMania really starts to set up this heel turn. And maybe a rivalry with Rhea Ripley on the other end of WrestleMania, giving Rhea and Tiffy some NXT time to shine as two NXT alumni.
00:36:39
Cody Atkinson
But overall, the Women's Chamber match was was stacked. Plenty of competition in there. lot of main card storylines. Definitely now very much looking forward to the Rhea Ripley, JPL, two behemoths in their in their division in the women's WWE Championship main card scene.
00:36:57
Cody Atkinson
So definitely something to look forward to. Something more that I'll break down in terms of SmackDown storylines as we get closer and closer to WrestleMania. Last match to talk about was the men's Elimination Chamber match. Randy Orton ends up winning against Cody Rhodes in the final two.
00:37:14
Cody Atkinson
Will now face the winner of Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes. This match coming from the post-match or post-PLE breakdown cover that happened on ESPN where Nick Aldis comes out, puts a lot of blame on Drew McIntyre for not behaving as champion, not listening to what he has to say.
00:37:35
Cody Atkinson
And has now led to Nick Aldis lifting the stipulation off of the previous contract that he got signed with Cody Rhodes that said no rematch for Cody Rhodes unless it are via Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, whatever it may be.
00:37:48
Cody Atkinson
So now lifting stipulation, now we get a Cody versus Drew. if you remember back to last week, I picked Cody to win the Chamber, but i mean not leading to a clean match or a clean one-on-one match at WrestleMania.
00:38:03
Cody Atkinson
i think this further continues that storyline. I think very easily you can obviously Randy Orton has the number one contenders match. I think you ultimately see fatal or a, you know, a triple threat match or even a fatal four way match.
00:38:17
Cody Atkinson
I think you're going to see a Jacob Fattu again it with this match on Friday. he was obviously hit over the weekend coming into it. You know, Jay Uso getting it taken out of the elimination chamber.
00:38:28
Cody Atkinson
Fattu and Logan Paul having a match on Friday night. Ultimately Drew Maxar can not interfere with that match. So think Drew, has really sold lot of different things, a lot burned a lot of bridges.
00:38:41
Cody Atkinson
And now he's going to have to reap it. And what does that look like? Obviously, he has a match with Cody on Friday. That's not going be clean, I can guarantee it. That's where I think Fox 2 gets involved. i think this ultimately becomes a fatal four-way between Randy, Drew, and Cody, and then Jacob Fox 2, which I think will be a great match. Ultimately, I think it's going to be very similar to what we saw last year with Roman Punk and Seth Rollins.
00:39:04
Cody Atkinson
where it's just these guys that are just going to go insanely for 45 minutes and it's going to be a great match. We'll see if that's what ends up happening, but that's my prediction right now as we get started so our towards WrestleMania 42 here and about, I think they said about 45 days away from from WrestleMania.
00:39:23
Cody Atkinson
Other storylines to talk about Trick Williams coming into the the elimination chamber. Dude has been an instant star since starting up in on Friday Night SmackDown. someone that's been in every single PLE since he debuted on the roster.
00:39:38
Cody Atkinson
Obviously, that was the number one first match on Sunday night's main event back in January. Obviously, being in the Men's Royal Rumble, and then now obviously being in the Elimination Chamber. Dude is a ready star. we talked about people with Ovo Femi, and obviously Ovo the main man already for the main card scene.
00:39:56
Cody Atkinson
But I think Trick immediately is already a main event guy. Whatever ends up happening at WrestleMania between... you know, what we talked about with Cody, Randy, Jacob Flaatu and Drew McIntyre, I think you're gonna see Trick Williams come up and have a title match before the end of year.
00:40:11
Cody Atkinson
Whether that's at Backlash, whether that's the Money Bank, whether that's at SummerSlam, whatever it may be. Over the next couple months after after Mania, I think it's very evident that Trick Williams is going to be someone to watch over a couple of months into the next year, potentially, as we get closer and closer to next WrestleMania season.
WrestleMania Storylines
00:40:32
Cody Atkinson
Um, next storyline I want to talk about to you guys, Logan Paul and the three, um, of the guys before getting stomped out by Seth Rollins, we had a, masked man appearance, like I spoke about earlier, ended up being a random guy to Seth Rollins, sneaking into the chamber, taking out Logan Paul, ultimately Logan Paul getting, then getting invaded by Cody Rhodes, if I remember correctly.
00:40:58
Cody Atkinson
And then, um, obviously that's when you guys reveal that Seth Rollins was back. as I now mean going forward Seth immediately is going to get reinserted into old storylines obviously not a title match at Mania but definitely going to start with him involved against maybe a Logan Paul maybe an Austin Theory maybe it is a tag team scenario that Seth gets involved in so we see a lot to dive into I'm going to keep an eye on that all over the next couple weeks at Monday Night Raw catch you guys up to date on it as we get closer to Wrestlemania
00:41:29
Cody Atkinson
But Logan Paul looking really good, feeling a couple pins, just looking like he has been honestly ever since he debuted in the WWE, looking like someone that can take over and be a main eventer.
00:41:41
Cody Atkinson
It's more just a matter of when, not if at this point for Logan Paul to get that main car push. Obviously going to have this feud with Seth for a little bit, and then you're going see him, I think, immediately get put into the main event.
00:41:54
Cody Atkinson
scene. I can see him getting them bank briefcase or later this year and I think you see him go after a Dominic Mysterio, go after CM Punk, a Finn Balor, whoever it's going to be later this year.
00:42:06
Cody Atkinson
And I think that's going to make for a great storytelling, although obviously being the biggest heel that the company has and someone that's going to really carry the company forward outside of your Dominic Mysterio and your Obafemis going forward and even Tripp Williams like I talked about.
00:42:24
Cody Atkinson
I think the Dom is, or sorry, of that Logan is going to be someone that's going to really fun to watch if I'm being completely honest with you. So definitely more to see. going be interested to see his WrestleMania match.
00:42:36
Cody Atkinson
I'm going to go ahead and say that I think it's going to be him versus Seth. I think they're going to build up this old storyline where in 2023, Logan makes his makes an appearance at Elimination Chamber, costs Seth Rollins the Chamber,
00:42:49
Cody Atkinson
And now obviously looked like he could have won the chamber this year and get stopped by Seth Rollins. Last little tidbit that I have for you guys. Randy Orton finally turns on Cody Rhodes and wins the elimination chamber.
00:43:04
Cody Atkinson
Long form storytelling, talked about this after the rumble that Randy over the year is just staring out at the belt longingly. wants take the belt, wants win be the 15th time what's the win and be the the fifteen time going on to be six time and then hopefully maybe even 17 18 to pass john cena uh someone that is very capable definitely still has a lot in the tank to go after john cena's 17 time world championship reign um but he finally turns on cody um finally gets that that monkey off his back the proverbial monkey off his back um and really goes in and i think i think the storyline is going to it's going to carry itself ultimately i don't think it's
00:43:47
Cody Atkinson
You know, going be fun for Randy. I think a long road ahead of him to get this dealt, especially Vince being the fatal four way that I'm referring to with Jacob, Patsu, Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre, and Randy himself, but very happy him finally turn on Cody and get that win, especially I believe i believe it was king of the ring last year where he hesitated to hit the, to punt Cody Rhodes, which led to Cody hitting the crossroads and winning the title again.
00:44:17
Cody Atkinson
So good to finally see him take the take that step and get that monkey off his back and really go forward to to WrestleMania now. I think it's gonna be one hell of a match.
Episode Conclusion
00:44:26
Cody Atkinson
It's gonna be fun, it's gonna be crazy and hectic going forward, but a lot of great storytelling to go down the line as we get closer and closer WrestleMania. So that wraps up my elimination chamber wrap up conclusion, whatever we wanna call it.
00:44:43
Cody Atkinson
Cool week. Great week. um Small little recaps for you guys on everything as I as i do all this solo this week. But definitely miss Cody. leak Can't wait to have him back on the pod next week as we get closer and closer, like I referred to.
00:44:57
Cody Atkinson
He and are writing up a lot of stuff for NFL free agency. Let's see where the World Baseball Classic Week 1 leaves us before we you know settle into topic number two. I'm sure Cody's going to come back with more A&M baseball, and that's while where we sit before SEC tournaments really get started for for a and basketball.
00:45:15
Cody Atkinson
You know where does that leave us for the tournament? Where has A&M baseball been at for last couple weeks? I'll come back to you guys with more lightning updates, and then we're definitely going to be talking more and more about and MLB opening day season predictions. We're going to do a full primer for you guys here in the couple weeks, something that we still obviously have written down for you guys as well.
00:45:34
Cody Atkinson
You know, what are we at from the Texans as we go through this summer, getting ready for what will be a big season for the Houston Texans. And then obviously we'll we'll break down more and more from Tampa Bay Rays, Houston Astros going forward into this season.
00:45:48
Cody Atkinson
Got plenty of content for you guys coming up, but very excited. But that, my friends, has been episode four of the Coastal Launch Sports Talk. I've been Justin coming to you from the magic of Orlando, Florida.
00:45:59
Cody Atkinson
Appreciate you guys letting me ramble for the last 45 minutes. please go ahead and make sure you hit that subscribe button, like, follow, do all the above. Leave us a comment. Tell us what you love about the show. Tell us what you want to hear about.
00:46:10
Cody Atkinson
There's some sports stories out there that you guys think we're missing and you guys want to talk about. Let us know down there in the comments. But love all you guys. Peace.