LAS VEGAS – The Nashville Stampede, who entered the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series playoffs in last place, proved that it’s not how a team starts a season, it’s how they finish, in winning the inaugural PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series Championship.

The Nashville contingent, stacked with talent, including riders with four combined PBR World Championships, continually disappointed throughout the regular season, finishing 7-20-1. But the squad caught fire and was dominant in the eight-team tournament in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena. After concluding the regular season last in the league standings, the Stampede delivered a historic Cinderella run through the progressive elimination tournament, riding upset wins against the Top 3 teams to be crowned the first-ever PBR Team Series Champions.

“It’s crazy,” said Nashville Stampede Head Coach Justin McBride dirtside. “I got to win two individual titles as a bull rider in this sport, and it’s nothing compared to this. The buckle is awesome, but for me, it’s about these guys who never gave up and finished on top.”

Before the final games, McBride delivered an epic amped-up pregame speech now going viral on social media.

The Nashville Stampede began their march to victory Friday evening when they faced off against the No. 3 Oklahoma Freedom. The gritty contingent rode three bulls to stun the Freedom, defeating the powerhouse team by one ride score, 264.75-176, to advance in the team tournament. The Stampede’s performance was headlined by scores from Ryan Dirteater (Hulbert, Oklahoma), who came out of retirement to seek his first championship, Cladson Rodolfo (Pilar do Sul, Brazil) and 2018 World Champion Kaique Pacheco (Itatiba, Brazil).

As competition continued in Round 2, the Stampede were locked in a David vs. Goliath showdown with the No. 1 Austin Gamblers. Continuing their impressive run through the tournament, the Stampede bested the Gamblers by one ride score, 265-175.25, to earn the first direct berth to the Semifinals.

On Championship Sunday, the Stampede then went head-to-head with the No. 2 Texas Rattlers, presented by Ariat, in the first Semifinal showdown. Compliments of an early score from Joao Henrique Lucas (Bastos, Brazil), and a 90-point, fifth-frame ride from Pacheco, the Stampede punched their ticket to the title game with a 178.5-90.25 win.

The No. 5 Arizona Ridge Riders earned the final berth to the Championship Game, logging a come-from-behind, fifth-frame victory against the No. 3 Oklahoma Freedom thanks to Luciano de Castro’s (Guzolandia, Brazil) 89.25 points on Big Black (K-C Bucking Bulls/Joe & Nina Webb). 

With three qualified rides from Dirteater, three-time World Champion Silvano Alves (Pilar do Sul, Brazil) and Pacheco, the Stampede defeated Arizona 264-182.75, completing their come-from-behind surge to be crowned the inaugural PBR Team Series Champions.

When the title game commenced inside an electric T-Mobile Arena, Lucas led off for Nashville, while Alisson De Souza (Taubate, Brazil) was out first for Arizona. Lucas came down aboard Skippy (Skippy & Linda Johnson/Jaynes Gang/Hookin’ W Ranch) in a heartbreaking 7 seconds, while Souza was upended by Mike’s Motive (Blake Sharp/High Voltage/Wetzel/Knott) in 4.59 seconds, and the scoreboard read 0-0 as the second got underway.

Nashville then looked to Rodolfo atop I’m Legit Too (Hale Cattle Co.) to give the team its first points. Rodolfo, however, was unable to answer the call, brought down in 4.91 seconds. With the chance to take an early lead, Eduardo Aparecido (Gouvelandia, Brazil) stepped up for Arizona, covering Pickle Moonshine (Shuler Bucking Bulls) for a monstrous 91.5 points.

As the game approached the midway point, 11-time PBR World Finals qualifier Dirteater climbed atop the chutes, determined to start a wave of winning momentum for Nashville. Matched with Hundred Bad Days (TNT Bucking Bulls) by Head Coach Justin McBride, Dirteater remained in total control, matching the bull jump-for-jump en route to the whistle. In what would prove to be the final out of his storied career (Dirteater announced his return to retirement at game’s end), the fan-favorite rider known as “The Cherokee Kid” was awarded 88.5 points to pull Nashville within 3 points of the lead.

Keen to add to their total, the Ridge Riders’ Keyshawn Whitehorse (McCracken Spring, Utah) then closed out the third aboard Whiplash (Blake Sharp/Floyd Lowery/CB & Traci Lee). Whitehorse, however, was routed in 3.24 seconds, with the scoreboard reading 91.5-88.5 at the top of the fourth.

With each team having just two outs remaining, the Stampede slotted three-time PBR World Champion Alves in their penultimate roster position. The man who has made more than $4 million in Las Vegas settled in aboard Hunter (Dozier Cattle Co./Martinez Bucking Bulls). Erupting from the chutes, Alves remained centered, dancing with the bull en route to the 8-second buzzer for a critical 85.5 points. Following the score, Nashville took their first lead in the game by 82.5 points.

In the bottom of the fourth, it was Vitor Losnake (Bauru, Brazil) atop Top Shelf (P. Ro Ranch/OK Corralis/Gordon/D&H Cattle) for the Ridge Riders. While Losnake initially earned a score, yellow flags flew, sending the trip into official review. Losnake was deemed to have slapped Top Shelf when he was yanked forward at the 5.33-second mark, resulting in no score for Arizona.

In the fifth, with Nashville up by one bull, 2018 PBR World Champion and Stampede closer Pacheco had the chance to clinch the PBR Team Series Championship early for his team. Tasked with Tijuana Two-Step (M Rafter E Bucking Bulls), the “Ice Man” was laser-focused and covered the bull for a monstrous 90 points to cement the title for Nashville. The Stampede bench cleared as they began to celebrate dirtside.

While their title hopes were dashed, the Arizona Ridge Riders closed the game strong as Castro rode Montana Jacket (Berg/Coleman/Ogden) for a commanding 91.25 points.

When the dust settled, the last-place team coming into the playoffs that stayed positive and refused to quit won the inaugural PBR Team Series Championship via their 183.25-point defeat of Arizona, 264-182.75.

Looking down the league standings, following Semifinal losses, the Texas Rattlers and Oklahoma Freedom squared off in the Third-Place Game. Outscoring Oklahoma by two rides, the Rattlers concluded the 2022 season third, beating the Freedom 270-86.75.

PBR RidePass on Pluto TV will offer replays of all the PBR Team Series action from Las Vegas. Check https://pluto.tv/en/live-tv/pbr-ridepass for the latest programming schedule.