PUEBLO, Colo. – When it comes to the PBR record books and the debate about the greatest bull riders in PBR history, a few names keep popping up.

One of them is J.B. Mauney.

Mauney is on most of the PBR’s all-time leaderboards – he’s tied for the most premier series event wins in PBR history, for starters – and is known for riding the rankest bulls.

He’s also a two-time World Champion, battling it out in a legendary rivalry with Silvano Alves to take the crown in 2013 and 2015. His win in 2013 includes what is widely considered to be the biggest comeback in PBR history.

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The 2023 PBR World Finals will be held on May 12-21 in Fort Worth, Texas, and Mauney will not be competing – he last appeared in PBR competition two years ago, in March of 2021, and has been on the rodeo circuit ever since. Still, no PBR 30^th anniversary celebration would be complete without looking back at the storied career of the Dragon Slayer.

Today, PBR.com’s From the Vault series does just that.

Mauney wins 2013 World Championship

LAS VEGAS ― In completing the most dramatic second-half comeback in the 20-year history of the PBR, J.B. Mauney is the 2013 PBR World Champion.

The 26-year-old from Mooresville, N.C., made history at the Thomas & Mack Center by becoming the first rider with two perfect performances ― 2013 and 2008 ― at the World Finals and also became the first rider in PBR history to win four consecutive events at the elite level.

Mauney, who was ranked 10th in the world standings and trailed two-time defending World Champion Silvano Alves by 3,056 points coming out of the summer break, claimed the title Sunday afternoon by 977.75 points.

“When I was standing out there with my family and my wife was standing beside me, I kind of got a little choked up,” said Mauney, who has ridden at 221 Built Ford Tough Series events over eight seasons before finally winning his first gold buckle and claiming the $1 million bonus that comes with winning the world title.

“There’s no better feeling. You dream of something all your life and to eventually get it, oh, I mean, it feels like you’ve done conquered the world.”

Mauney didn’t conquer the world, but he spent five days beating up on one of the greatest Brazilian riders, who just last year became the first and only back-to-back World Champion in PBR history.

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Mauney’s second title puts him in elite company

LAS VEGAS – J.B. Mauney was sitting on the floor in the back of of the stock contractor’s lounge on Friday night when it was his turn to pick during the Round 4 bull draft.

Calmly, but confidently, Mauney just said, “Bruiser.”

There wasn’t a glare into a television camera or a confident strut off the shark cage as when Mauney would challenge the likes of World Champion Bulls Bushwacker, Asteroid, or SweetPro’s Long John during Built Ford Tough Championship Rounds.

He didn’t pick Bruiser to brag or boast, instead it was because he genuinely believes if he wants to be remembered as the greatest bull rider of all time, then he better go ride the toughest bull in the pen.

Even though Mauney had already clinched the 2015 world title, the 28-year-old put an emphatic slam dunk on his 2015 season by riding Bruiser for 92.75 points – the 64th 90-point ride of his career – the next night.

“Unless you show up and perform, and do what you are supposed to do, your words don’t mean nothing. To be the best, you have to ride the best, and that proves it.”

In fact, that is Mauney’s goal before he one day finally decides to retire from the sport.

Mauney, who believes he can ride up to five more years potentially, knows exactly where he wants to be when it is all said and done.

“I want my name to be right there at the top,” he said. “That is why I do this. I love doing it, but I want to ‘be the best at it. I want to be right there at the top of those record books. I want people to remember me for who I am. Hopefully for being one of the greatest bull riders ever. One that lays it all out on the line every time. It doesn’t matter whether he is sitting first or last, he puts it all out there every single time.”

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Photo courtesy of Matt Breneman/Bull Stock Media