PUEBLO, Colo. – It’s officially Bull Week here at the PBR, and you know what that means: a week full of content about everyone’s favorite bovine superstars.
The 2023 YETI World Champion Bull race used scores from both the 2022 PBR Teams season and the 2023 Unleash The Beast season, and what a race it was. On the final day of competition, four bulls were still in contention, and it wasn’t until the very last outs that a champion was decided.
All season long, the bulls came to play in a big way, often dominating the riders and putting up displays never before seen in the PBR.
Let’s look back at the seven highest bull scores of the season.
1. 47.75 points – Domino against Brady Turgeon in Nampa, Idaho
In just 1.75 seconds of work, Domino put up the highest bull score in nearly two years when he tossed Brady Turgeon at the PBR Gem State Bucking Battle, presented by Cooper Tires, in Nampa, Idaho, in April. No bovine had put up a score that high since 2021 YETI World Champion Bull Woopaa posted 48.75 points against two-time World Champion Jose Vitor Leme – resulting in a 98.75-point ride, the highest in PBR history – at the 2021 PBR World Finals.
“When it comes to bulls that are just going for a world title, don’t look any further than Domino, for the simple fact that this bull will be World Champion at one point,” bullfighter Cody Webster said at the time. “I’m marking my words right here in Nampa: Domino will be a World Champion in the very next few years.”
2. 47.25 points – Ridin Solo against Josh Frost in Albuquerque, New Mexico
In 2023, Ridin Solo etched his name in the history books with his second consecutive YETI World Champion Bull title, joining fellow two-time winners Dillinger, Bones and Smooth Operator. The only bulls to have three World Championships are Little Yellow Jacket, Bushwacker and SweetPro’s Bruiser. The highest bull score of his world title campaign – and the second-highest of his career – was a 47.25-point out against Josh Frost, a 2.86-second buckoff at the PBR Ty Murray Invitational, presented by the Downs Racetrack and Casino, in March.
RELATED: Ridin Solo joins elite company with second consecutive YETI World Champion Bull title
T3. 47 points – Malaki against Clancy Hart in Ridgedale, Missouri
This was a matchup of two PBR newcomers. Malaki debuted on the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour in 2022, while Clancy Hart had competed in just three PBR events before a Challenger Series run and appearing in two games for the Kansas City Outlaws in 2022. They crossed paths at Thunder Days in Ridgedale, Missouri, and Malaki made it a very unpleasant day at work for Hart. Hart bucked off in 3.73 seconds, earning a re-ride, and Malaki scored a career-high 47 points.
T3. 47 points – Red Demon against Dawson Branton at the PBR World Finals
The bulls dominated at the 2023 PBR World Finals, holding the best bull riders in the world to precious few qualified rides. While Ridin Solo won Bull of the Finals honors, no bovine put up a higher score than Red Demon. In the championship round – saving his best for last – Red Demon put up a career-high bull score of 47 points, bucking off Dawson Branton in 5.84 seconds. It was an incredible Finals for Red Demon, as he also bucked off Vitor Losnake in Round 5 for 46.25 points.
T5. 46.75 points – UTZ BesTex Legend against Dalton Kasel in St. Louis