PUEBLO, Colo. – All summer long, the PBR Top 30, presented by Pendleton Whisky, has been counting down the best riders and bulls in PBR history.
On the PBR’s Facebook and YouTube pages, we’ve gotten to watch along and reminisce about the all-time greats. Last week, the rider countdown culminated with two-time World Champion Justin McBride in the top spot.
This week, it’s the bulls’ turn, and there’s no surprise as to the bovine in the No. 1 spot.
“How would I introduce Bushwacker?” PBR Commissioner and CEO Sean Gleason asked. “The GOAT. He was absolutely the greatest of all time. It’s indisputable.”
During his six-year premier-series career, Bushwacker brought professional bull riding to new heights and became a world-famous superstar. In those six years, he bucked off 64 of his 66 opponents on the premier series, bucking off 84 of 87 at all levels of competition. He won World Championships in 2011, 2013 and 2014, joining Little Yellow Jacket and later SweetPro’s Bruiser as the only three-time World Champion Bulls. He earned bull scores of 48 points or higher four times and scored 45 points or higher 65 times.
The last ride of Bushwacker’s career came at the 2014 PBR World Finals. He bucked off Mike Lee in 2.13 seconds, earning a bull score of 46.5 points.
Bushwacker still holds the record for most consecutive premier-series buckoffs with 42. He was ultimately bested by archrival J.B. Mauney for 95.25 points on August 16, 2013 – exactly 10 years ago. The two went head-to-head 13 times at all levels of competition, and Mauney was only successful that one time.
Bushwacker received PBR’s Brand of Honor in 2016 and is still one of PBR’s ambassadors, still basking in the glory of his career at a ripe old age.
Today, PBR.com’s From the Vault series relives some of the many highlights of Bushwacker’s career.
Bushwacker leaves no doubt, takes World Champion Bull title (10/31/11)
LAS VEGAS - Going into Sunday's final round of the PBR World Champion Bull race, Bushwacker had a commanding one-point lead over rival Asteroid.
Had he had an off-day, the high-leaping Asteroid still could have won, despite Bushwacker's 48.5-47.5 advantage.
But it was Asteroid who faltered, hipping himself as he exploded out of the chute with Cord McCoy. Still, he received a very respectable score of 45.0.
Minutes later, Bushwacker made a clean break from the chute, dumped 2009 World Finals average winner J.B. Mauney in 3.58 seconds, and turned in a 47.5.
In a race that was decided on a two-ride aggregate score during the World Finals, Bushwacker clinched the 2011 title with a marking of 96. Asteroid, owned by Circle T Ranch and Rodeo, came in second with a 92.5.
"Bushwacker didn't have his best day this afternoon, but Asteroid fouled himself leaving the chutes, so he sure didn't have his best day," said longtime PBR Livestock Director Cody Lambert. "They are definitely the top two bulls."
Bushwacker makes it 41 straight (4/14/13)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. ― Kent Cox couldn't help but shake afterward.
For the 41st consecutive time he watched as Bushwacker, the bull he handles and hauls for owner Julio Moreno, bucked one of the top riders in the world off his back. This time it was Ben Jones.
Bushwacker was marked 48.25 points ― the second highest score of his career.
"That's incredible," said Cox, whose voice cracked a time or two from the adrenaline rush. "That's what we go for."
Cox added, "I don't know what to say about it. That's just him. That's his heart and his will."
In his past five outs he hasn't scored less than than 47 points and hasn't been marked fewer than 45 points since September 2010. The next time he competes will be in the third round of the upcoming Last Cowboy Standing, in which he will be one of two Monster Energy Bonus bulls worth an additional $80,000 if the rider who draws him can make the 8-second whistle.
Mauney conquers Bushwacker (8/18/13)
Tulsa, Okla. ― "It's about time," proclaimed an elated J.B. Mauney, who said he's never felt as great as he does Saturday night in Tulsa, Okla., where he won his first Built Ford Tough Series event of 2013 with a ride that will go down as one of the most memorable nights in PBR history.
It took nine times, but finally the 26-year-old from Mooresville, N.C., made a full 8-second ride on Bushwacker.
After bucking off a PBR-record 42 consecutive riders at BFTS events, and 56 overall, Mauney made the whistle on a bull that has done everything he can to establish himself as the greatest, to the tune of 95.25 points.
Kent Cox and Mauney, whose skin was completely covered in goose bumps, embraced one another immediately afterward.
"If it had to be anybody it had to be J.B.," said Cox, who has hauled Bushwacker his entire career for owner Julio Moreno.
Bushwacker wins 2013 World Champion Bull title (10/27/13)
LAS VEGAS ― There was no way Bushwacker was going to let another world title slip away from his grasp this week during the 2013 Built Ford Tough World Finals.
The 2011 World Champion Bull reclaimed his title by bucking off Eduardo Aparecido in 4.57 seconds Sunday during the Built Ford Tough Championship Round for a bull score of 47 points, giving Bushwacker a total event score of 93.5 points and the 2013 World Champion Bull title.
With confetti falling all around him inside the Thomas & Mack Center, owner Julio Moreno (Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls) admitted he was at a loss for words.
“This is just exciting,” Moreno said. “It is the most exciting thing in my life to be a two-time champion.”
Bushwacker finishes on top (10/27/14)
LAS VEGAS – True champions rise to the occasion when their backs are against the wall and that was exactly the case for two-time World Champion Bull Bushwacker this week at the Built Ford Tough World Finals.
Bushwacker gave owner Julio Moreno and the 17,204 standing fans in attendance one final memory during his last career out by roaring out of the bucking chute and taking two quick jumps to shed 2004 World Champion Mike Lee off his back in 2.13 seconds to claim his third World Champion Bull title on Sunday afternoon.
“It was tough, but we did it,” Moreno said. “Oh man, this is great. This is the ultimate. I was a little nervous the first time and thought he just didn’t get marked. Again, I thought, 'Well, hopefully, this score of 46.5 points will hold up.’
“I can’t really explain how I feel; just, this is the greatest of my whole life.”
Bushwacker ready to be honored in Las Vegas (10/20/16)
PUEBLO, Colo. - Julio Moreno knows there will be a flood of emotions when he pulls up to the South Point Arena and unloads Bushwacker for the Heroes & Legends celebration.
The three-time World Champion Bull is this year’s recipient of the Brand of Honor, which is awarded to a bull for his exemplary performance throughout his career.
“It is awesome to be able to retire him and all of a sudden he can come back in there and win,” Moreno said. “He has accomplished everything now in this sport. Hopefully, (his late handler) Kent Cox is smiling about it.”
Moreno has shed tears of happiness and sadness in Las Vegas throughout his lifetime as a PBR stock contractor, but in November he will likely cry tears of pure joy once again as he watches his bull get honored.
“Last time we were leaving Vegas a couple of years ago, I thought that would be the last time he would see Vegas,” Moreno said. “Now to bring him back that is pretty good. A lot of times you hear horror stories about this bull or this horse getting inducted somewhere and they are not alive.”
There is also the possibility of Bushwacker actually receiving his award on stage at the South Point Arena. And, yes, it makes complete sense for there to be a spectacle surrounding Bushwacker one more time in Las Vegas.
Photo courtesy of Matt Breneman/Bull Stock Media