AUSTIN, Texas – Frank Newsom was laying in his hospital bed at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, on Sept. 9 when he looked over at his 7-year-old son, Riggin.

“Did I mess up or what?” Newsom asked.

“Yeah, Dad. Yeah. Yeah, you just sucked,” Riggin replied.

The 43-year-old Matador Jerky Bullfighter then laughs to himself.

Newsom has since been released from the hospital following an overnight stay after Tractor Tippin came up behind and launched him into the corner of the steel arena fencing at JQH Arena.

“He was the only one honest with me,” Frank told PBR.com this week. “Everybody else was trying to be nice about it and he just told me straight up.”

The veteran bullfighter has since been cleared by Dr. Tandy Freeman, and Newsom will make his return to the arena this weekend at the WinStar World Casino & Resort Invitational in Austin, Texas.

Fans can watch all of the action from the Frank Erwin Center on Friday night beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET on RidePass.

“I thought I could have went last week,” Newsom said. “Tandy, myself and my wife talked. He said you would probably be good, but it would be safer to wait another week. We all agreed to wait one more week, but I will be going to Austin.”

Newsom seemingly escaped fatal danger after landing on his neck and being backboarded out of JQH Arena.

The video quickly spread across social media, as did an outpouring of support.

“It just blew me away how much people cared,” Newsom said. “Man, I appreciate these people and I want to get back to work and do good. I want to get back to doing my job, and doing a good job. Thank you everyone for the support.”

Newsom passed various neurological tests in the last few weeks and is once again back in the gym training like any other week.

He said that while the video looks bad, he feels he has sustained worse wrecks in his career.

“To me, it didn’t seem like that big of a deal,” Newsom said. “That is what is kind of frustrating. I remember having a lot worse.

“I have been working out and doing everything I always do, and I haven’t had any trouble. (Tandy) said that was good. I think now, I feel confident now that I am ready to go. Tandy feels good about it and I am ready to get back to work.”

Fellow bullfighter Shorty Gorham explained on CBS in Springfield that Newsom’s toughness is no façade.

“I have met a lot of really tough guys, but he is just naturally tough,” Gorham said during the broadcast. “Some people let their ego carry that toughness a little ways, but he is not one of them. He is pretty humble and is naturally that tough.”

Newsom has been kicking himself for the last two weeks over the wreck.

The Paoli, Oklahoma, native understands it could have easily been avoided.

Newsom made a major mistake, turning his back on Tractor Tippin’ before the bull had completely exited the arena.

It was a dumb mishap, and Newsom knew it once he saw the video.

“It just makes me mad and frustrated that I let my guard down,” Newsom said. “That was a screw up on my part. I know better. I know not to ever let my guard down around bulls or any livestock. I can’t remember ever doing that, where I stop and look at the ground. I don’t know what was going on with me.

“I remember it being a good day. We were flowing good and picking up bulls good. I just remember it being a good day. I don’t know. I see that tape and I get so frustrated because that is not OK.”

Fellow bullfighter Jesse Byrne said on RidePass that he took was of the same mindset that Newsom was in the arena.

“You start to take things for granted out there and it can get dangerous in a real hurry,” Byrne said. “I was with Frank on that decision. I thought that bull had left the arena too. Luckily he was on the side of me and I could still see him if he did change his mind. When he did, he took advantage of Frank taking his eye off him. I know it was frustrating for Frank, and it is hard to watch for me. To see a guy like that go down and stay down, you know it was something serious.” 

As has been the case over the last few years, some have questioned if maybe the wreck will make Newsom question whether or not he wants to continue in his profession.

Newsom quickly denounced any thought of retirement.

He still loves what he does and is chomping at the bit to return this weekend.

“Oh no. It doesn’t change anything,” Newsom said.  “Everybody has been asking me about retirement. I am not ready. I figure I will know when I am ready.

“Right now it isn’t right.”

 Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko