PBR World Champion Bucking Bull

PBR World Finals Preview

By Kelly B. Robbins

It is once again that time in the season when the championship races for the PBR Unleash the Beast Premier Series heat up and start to narrow down the contenders, as the “cream slowly rises to the top”. The Yeti World Champion Bull race is no exception as this restructured and shortened 2022 Bull Riding season winds down toward the PBR World Finals at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth in May.

The 2022 PBR Unleash the Beast regular season runs from January through May, culminating with a seven-day championship spanning two weekends of bull riding. The first three rounds of the 2022 PBR World Finals will be held May 13-15, with the final five rounds to be held May 19-22. The 2022 YETI World Champion Bull will be the bovine athlete with the highest average bull score from their top-six regularseason outs and two outs at the PBR World Finals.

Reigning World Champion Bull 124 Woopaa and 612 Ridin’ Solo have been the two dominant bulls for most of the season, trading first and second place back and forth, and at one point sharing the number one spot in a tie. As of this writing, with only three regular season events left, Ridin’ Solo is in first place again after dumping Keyshawn Whitehorse in 6.4 seconds in the championship round of the PBR Everett Invitational on Wednesday, April 6 in Everett, Washington. His bull score was 46 points, even though a re-ride was awarded for Solo hipping himself at the start of the out.

Solo has just a slight lead over Woopaa, with a mere 0.04 points separating them as of this writing. Slade Long of Probullstats.com said, “It’s still a little early, but I like both Woopaa and Ridin’ Solo. It’s a closer contest than last year. These two bulls are more equal, and it could go to either one.”

612 Ridin’ Solo

612 Ridin’ Solo is in first place with a world average bull score of 46.21. Six-year-old Solo is owned by Cord McCoy and Steve Best and maintained his number one ranking after a good out this past weekend at the PBR Wrangler Invitational presented by Cooper Tires in Tacoma. He went head-to-head with Mason Taylor in the championship round, besting him in 2.24 seconds for a bull score of 45.25 points. Solo’s record for the season is currently 10 and 2.

“I think we are positioned pretty good for these last events,” Cord shared. “We look for a good event in Tulsa. If Solo can have a high scoring out in Tulsa, I’ll hold him out of Nampa and Billings, so he’ll be fresh for the PBR Finals. But if Woopaa does really well in Tulsa, I may buck Solo in the next two events. I have confidence in Solo, but I would hate to give Woopaa much of a lead going into the Finals. Then of course Solo needs to have two good outs in the Finals.”

621 Ridin' Solo

Photo by Andy Watson / BullStock Media

124 Woopaa

124 Woopaa is in second place with a world average bull score of 46.17. Woopaa did not buck in the PBR Everett Invitational on Wednesday, April 6. Co-owner and handler Laramie Wilson revealed that Woopaa would not buck again until April 15 and 16 at the PBR Express Ranches Classic presented by Hard Rock Hotel and Casino at the BOK Center in Tulsa, bypassing the PBR Wrangler Invitational presented by Cooper Tires in Tacoma on April 8, 9, and 10 as well. The six-year-old champion is owned by Larry Barker of Barker Bulls and Laramie Wilson of the Hookin’ W Ranch and has a record of 9 and 2 for the season. Woopaa moved into a tie for first place with Ridin’ Solo after current world number one bull rider Joao Ricardo Vieira rode Woopaa for a score of 94.25 points and the event win at the Ty Murray Invitational in Albuquerque on Sunday March 27 but has dropped to second place after missing the two Washington events. It was revealed that Woopaa will buck twice in Tulsa. Tulsa is where reigning and two-time World Champion Bull Rider Jose Vitor Leme and Woopaa battled last year for 97.75 points, the record breaking highest-marked ride in PBR history. This broke the old mark of 96.5 points which had stood for 17 years.

124 Woopaa and Austin Richardson went for 94.5 points to win Round 1 of the PBR Unleash the Beast Tour in Tulsa, OK.

Photo by Andy Watson / BullStock Media

476 Moonlight Party

476 Moonlight Party is currently in third place with a world average bull score of 45.58. Owned by Jane Clark and Gene Owen, Moonlight has been hanging around in the top ten for several weeks. The five-year-old bovine bucker bested Allison de Souza in 4.21 seconds in the championship round of the Last Cowboy Standing in Sioux Falls on April 3. His 46-point bull score landed him solidly in the top five. “For him to have a chance at the title, Moonlight Party has got to have real good outs from here on out, and the other bulls have to stumble a little bit,” Gene shared. “Several years back we came in second at the Classic Championship after the top bulls had bad scores. Anything is possible.”

476 Moonlight Party

Photo by Andy Watson / BullStock Media

55 Pookie Holler

55 Pookie Holler, currently tied for fourth place with High Brow Cat with a world average bull score of 45.50, has been in the top ten for most of the season. He is owned by Dakota Rodeo, Clay Struve and Chad Berger. Seven-year-old Pookie Holler had two identical scoring outs of 45.75 points in the first ever two 15/15 Bucking Battles in the same location on one weekend at The Pit in Albuquerque on March 25 and 26. Kaique Pacheco rode him for 91.75 points and the event win at the one-day event at the Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington on April 6. In Tacoma on April 10, Pookie Holler was selected by the event leader Austin Richardson for the championship round. Even though he had already won the event when it was his turn to ride, Austin did climb aboard Pookie Holler and hung on until he was upended at 7.99 seconds. Pookie Holler’s season record so far is 11 and 2. “Well, he’s got an outside chance at the championship,” Chad Berger said. “Everything has got to be good for him and bad for the other bulls for him to have a shot.”

55 Pookie Holler

Photo by Andy Watson / BullStock Media

622 High Brow Cat

622 High Brow Cat is currently in a tie for fourth place with Pookie Holler, with a world average bull score of 45.50. He outdueled Manoelito de Souza Jr. in both 15/15 Bucking Battle outs in The Pit in Albuquerque for 45.75 points on March 25 and 26. He then bucked off current number one ranked bull rider Joao Ricardo Vieira in 4.40 seconds at the PBR Everett Invitational on April 6. High Brow Cat is owned by Jeremy Walker of Paradigm Bull Company and is unridden in 10 outs.

622 High Brow Cat and J.T. Moore battle it out at the PBR Unleash the Beast 15/15 Bucking Battle in Billings, MT.

Photo by Andy Watson / BullStock Media

524C Mezcal

524C Mezcal is sitting right outside the top five with a world average bull score of 45.08. He is an outside contender in the bull race. Also owned by Jeremy Walker and Paradigm Bull Company, Mezcal moved back into the top ten after Glendale and Albuquerque. Two-time and reigning PBR World Champion Bull Rider Jose Vitor Leme tried Mezcal at The Pit and was sent flying after only 1.90 seconds. This gave Mezcal a bull score of 46 points. Mezcal remains unridden for the season with a 10-0 record.

524C Mezcal and Conner Halverson tangle at the PBR Unleash the Beast Tour in Anaheim, CA.

Photo by Andy Watson / BullStock Media

It is difficult to accurately predict which amazing bovine athlete will capture the 2022 PBR YETI World Champion Bull crown at this point in the season. But clearly, Ridin’ Solo and Woopaa have the advantage over the other contenders. Let’s remember that this is Ridin’ Solo’s best season yet and he is a tough bull and seems unaffected by the shortened season and format changes. He is capable of 47+ scores. Let’s also remember that reigning and two-time PBR World Champion Bull Rider Jose Vitor Leme rode Woopaa for a new PBR record high score of 98.75 and a 48-point bull score for Woopaa at the PBR Finals last year!

It all comes down to the PBR Finals and how all of these bulls score their two outs. A lower score or a disqualification for a reride would almost certainly eliminate a bull from title contention. The excitement and anticipation will continue to build as we edge closer towards the PBR World Finals in May! Hold on to your hats all you bull riding fans and stay tuned to the “Toughest Sport on Dirt”!