PUEBLO, Colo. — It’s been almost eight months since 2018 World Champion Kaique Pacheco last forced the crowd into an uproar.

Ranked within the premier series’ Top 3 in late April, Pacheco was making a run for what would’ve been his second gold buckle. But during a short round showdown with Razzmatazz, his third opponent in the Championship go (thanks to a pair of issued re-rides) and fifth bull of the weekend, he saw his tour-winning aspirations disappear before him.

Able to complete the ride for a sound 83 points, he secured a third-place finish during one of the final stops leading into the 2023 World Finals: Unleash The Beast.

But during the rough ride and ensuing dismount attempt, the 29-year-old cowboy ended up breaking his leg, thus putting a pause on his bull riding career for the foreseeable future.

A testament to both how successful Pacheco’s 2023 campaign had been prior to the injury and just how dominant the animal athletes were during the circuit’s electric eight-round finale in Fort Worth, Texas, a few weeks later, Pacheco found himself in the No. 3 spot at season’s end, despite not competing on the industry’s biggest stage inside Dickies Arena.

His absence marked the first occurrence the talented Brazilian hasn’t competed at World Finals since 2014, paving the way for Rafael Jose de Brito to capture the first-ever triple threat feat (including the World Finals event title, Rookie of the Year honors and World Championship gold buckle).

Attempting to test the waters just three months ago during a PBR Teams event, Justin McBride and the Nashville Stampede very much welcomed their ace back to action. But with the veteran aggravating said bumps and bruises during the out, he quickly found himself moved to Nashville’s Injured Reserve List, eventually missing the duration of year two’s epic 5-on-5 format.

So, when one of the tour’s established fan favorites is introduced Friday night inside SNHU Arena, fans are expected to shower the rider with love.

And if he’s truly healthy and ready to go, fans can expect greatness.

Top-tier competition means so much more when the best in the world are healthy and participating.

While Jose Vitor Leme, Sage Steele Kimzey, John Crimber and a few other of the series’ stars are expected to miss the showdown in Manchester, the tour is more than happy to compensate by welcoming back one of the best to ever enter the chutes.

Set to dance with Squealin’ Cat during Friday night’s opening round, Pacheco has had plenty of time to ramp up his riding activity and is expected to make his 2024 UTB debut with a clear bill of health.

With the 2024 Unleash The Beast season set to embark upon its fourth event of the season, the world’s best bull riders are set to compete inside Manchester, New Hampshire’s SNHU Arena for two days of epic action beginning Friday, Dec. 15 and concluding Saturday, Dec. 16. Ahead of Round 1, let’s take a look at who’s drawing into the lineup during this weekend’s PBR Manchester:

ROUND 1 MATCHUPS Ezekiel Mitchell vs. Joe Exotic Vitor Losnake vs. Skinny Kenny Brady Oleson vs. Dog Bone Silvano Alves vs. Retro Maniac Casey Roberts vs. Country Club Kaiden Loud vs. Chute Boss Dalton Kasel vs. Smooth Criminal Trace Redd vs. Game Day *Daniel Keeping vs. Soul King *Mauricio Gulla Moreira vs. The Sauce Julio Cesar Marques vs. Pearl Snapped Wyatt Rogers vs. Spotted Rust Thiago Salgado vs. The Judge Dawson Gleaves vs. Centerfold Grayson Cole vs. Yelawolf Wingson Henrique da Silva vs. Gangster Blues Andrew Alvidrez vs. Sellout Boudreaux Campbell vs. Tall Boy Lucas Divino vs. Repo Jesse Petri vs. Sandman *Ednelio Almeida vs. Dirty Deeds Eli Vastbinder vs. Rock On Kaique Pacheco vs. Squealin’ Cat Alex Cerqueira vs. Pneu-Dart’s Rocky Malcoma Joao Lucas Campos vs. Nighttime Crime Luciano De Castro vs. All In Daylon Swearingen vs. South Point Dance Monkey *Bob Mitchell vs. Cutthroat Paulo Eduardo Rossetto vs. Cadillac *Brady Fielder vs. Tucker Felipe Furlan vs. Star of the Show Joao Ricardo Vieira vs. Plumber Man Eduardo Aparecido vs. Cactus Jack Koltin Hevalow vs. Comanchero Austin Richardson vs. Muss Bus Alan de Souza vs. Gravy Caden Bunch vs. My Buddy Taco Cody Jesus vs. Panic Button Cassio Dias vs. Coolio

* denotes a rematch

OUT BECAUSE OF INJURY/OTHER Jess Lockwood Dakota Buttar Mason Taylor Chase Outlaw Marcus Mast Derek Kolbaba Colten Fritzlan Tate Pollmeier Elizmar Jeremias Nick Tetz Jose Vitor Leme Keyshawn Whitehorse Briggs Madsen John Crimber Sage Kimzey Dener Barbosa Rafael dos Santos Conner Halverson

ROUND 1 REMATCHES Bob Mitchell vs. Cutthroat (4.08 seconds in Clarksville, Tennessee) Brady Fielder vs. Tucker (83.5 points in Bangor, Maine) Daniel Keeping vs. Soul King (4.05 seconds in Albuquerque, New Mexico; 7.71 seconds in Johnstown, Pennsylvania) Ednelio Almeida vs. Dirty Deeds (3.23 seconds in Clarksville, Tennessee) Mauricio Gulla Moreira vs. The Sauce (5.22 seconds in Fort Worth, Texas)

CASSIO DIAS BRINGS 161.5-POINT LEAD INTO MANCHESTER Starting his rookie Unleash The Beast campaign with a tour-best 9-for-10, Cassio Dias has captured the tour’s past two event titles, which represent the first two premier series victories. During the first four-round event of the year last weekend in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, he turned in a 3-for-4 showcase, including a now tour-best (and career-high) 91.75-strike dancing with Cy Young. Earlier in the weekend, he initially converted atop The Judge in Round 1 before suffering his first buckoff of the season on Saturday night, dispatched by Train Station in 4.07 seconds. Remaining perfect from there, he got back in the ride column in Round 3 to secure his spot in the short round, this time marked 86.25 points after besting Strong Arm. Sealing the deal and robbing Cody Jesus of what would’ve been his career-first UTB win, he converted for a second time on Championship Sunday to extend his lead atop the premier series standings to 161.5 points. Challenged by Coolio Friday night in Manchester during what should be the final out of the evening, the 22-year-old will look to keep his spicy start to the season going strong, while new No. 2 Jesus looks to get some revenge, first paired with Panic Button in Round 1.

FOLLOW ALONG The two-day, three-round showcase inside SNHU Arena is set to begin Friday, Dec. 15 at 7:45 p.m. EST with Round 1 (live on Ridepass on Pluto TV) and continues Saturday, Dec. 16 at 6:45 p.m. EST, with both the second round and championship go.

RELATED: Where to Watch: Manchester

Fans can stay tuned to PBR.com and PBR social media channels throughout the weekend for the latest scores, wrecks, injury updates and beyond as Unleash The Beast prepares to invade Manchester during the fourth event of the 2024 season!

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media