2022 is coming to an end, and man, was it a big year in the PBR. We kicked things off with the Unleash The Beast season, as always, crowning a new World Champion in Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. Then the PBR Team Series took center stage for its inaugural season, and we watched the Nashville Stampede go from worst to first to be crowned the first-ever champion. Plus, the WCRA anointed its first Triple Crown of Rodeo winner, champions were crowned across the world, and more.
Miss a moment of the action this year? Here’s what happened around the PBR.
On the Unleash The Beast…
Mason Taylor kicked off the year with a win in Indianapolis on Jan. 1.
Stetson Lawrence won his first UTB event since 2017 for one more moment of glory before his retirement at the PBR World Finals.
The season was a grind, but the best rose to the top: Daylon Swearingen earned the unique distinction of winning two Unleash The Beast events in four days.
Dakota Louis notched the first premier series win of his career and did it in the best place possible: at home.
Eduardo Aparecido became the 20th rider in PBR history to record 300 qualified rides on the premier series.
Ednei Caminhas was out there proving that age is just a number: the 2002 World Champion became the oldest rider ever to qualify for the PBR World Finals at age 46.
On the other end of the age spectrum, 19-year-old Bob Mitchell was crowned Rookie of the Year.
After a knock-down, drag-out fight for the YETI World Champion Bull title, Ridin Solo edged out Woopaa with an extraordinary showing at the PBR World Finals.
He was seen as the underdog the whole way through, but Daylon Swearingen went 6-for-8 at the World Finals to win the World Championship.
On the PBR Team Series…
The Austin Gamblers won the first-ever PBR Team Series draft lottery, eventually selecting Jose Vitor Leme as the first draft pick in PBR Team Series history.
Draft night also saw the league’s first trade, a blockbuster between the Texas Rattlers and Carolina Cowboys.
The Rattlers had themselves a surprise star in Daniel Keeping, who went 9-for-12 during the regular season, including a perfect 5-for-5 in the closer role.
The Oklahoma Freedom were led by Derek Kolbaba, who won the team its home event with a stunning three consecutive walk-off rides.
Also at Freedom Fest, the Freedom’s Chase Outlaw capped things off with a career-high 94.5-point ride on Woopaa that held up as the highest-scoring ride of the season.
The Cowboys were also led by a veteran, as Cooper Davis returned from injury – and very nearly retirement – to ride his first four bulls and help his team to a second-place finish at home.
Kaique Pacheco became the 21st member of the 300-ride club, helping the Stampede to a win over the Kansas City Outlaws in Glendale, Arizona.
The Rattlers started slow, but by the end of the season, they won three events in a row…
…and were the first team to go a perfect 5-for-5 in a game.
Two-time World Champion Jose Vitor Leme clinched the MVP award thanks to his 19-for-26 (73%) showing for the Austin Gamblers.
After being at the bottom of the standings during the regular season, the Nashville Stampede went on a Cinderella run in Las Vegas to be crowned the PBR Team Series Champions.
Ryan Dirteater unretired in hopes of winning a PBR Team Series Championship…
…and then retired again, his goal complete.
At the PBR Global Cup…
The Team USA Eagles defended home soil and their Global Cup title, going 6-for-7 to win their third Global Cup.
In the WCRA…
Bareback rider RC Landingham became the first winner of the Triple Crown of Rodeo, taking home a check for $1 million.
The Women’s Rodeo World Championship was held in Fort Worth, Texas, crowning four event champions.
On the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour…
Cody Jesus came on strong late in the season, but what a late push it was. Before nearly winning the PBR World Finals, he won the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals to cruise into Fort Worth with momentum.
After Ouncie Mitchell’s tragic passing, Dalton Kasel won the event held in his memory.
Up north in PBR Canada…
Nick Tetz came from behind to be crowned the 2022 PBR Canada Champion.
Down under in PBR Australia…
Cody Heffernan won the PBR Monster Energy Tour Grand Finals event title to ultimately be crowned the PBR Australia Champion.
Through the lens with BullStockMedia
Check out the best photos from 2022.
Social spotlight
Well, that’s a full-circle moment if we’ve ever seen one!
Let’s gooooo!
Merry Christmas from the PBR!
Looking ahead
What’s up next on the docket?
The Unleash The Beast rolls on in Albany, New York, with the PBR Albany Invitational on Dec. 29-30 (Dec. 29 at 7:45 p.m. ET on RidePass on Pluto TV; Dec. 30 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network).
We’ll end the year with Touring Pro Division stops in Fort Worth, Texas, for the Cowtown PBR on Dec. 30-31, and Klamath Falls, Oregon, for Bullmania New Year’s Eve on Dec. 31.
