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07.07.24 - Unleash The Beast
Top bull scores from Bushwacker’s legendary career
Celebrating the three-time World Champion’s rankest of outs!
By James Youness
PUEBLO, Colo. – All great things, indeed, do come to an end.
Unfortunately for bull riding fans, that also applies to the elite bucking talents of the prized bovines who make our sport the epic spectacle that it is.
So, when the world learned of three-time World Champion Bull Bushwacker passing, we couldn’t help but look back at some of the legend’s rankest of efforts.
RELATED: Three-time World Champion Bull Bushwacker passes away
From racking up world titles to becoming one of the tour’s most decorated and celebrated athletes, there wasn’t a set of lights too big for the Julio Moreno/Dallas Schott standout. Always ready to give his all on the dirt before signing some autographs (kidding, mostly), he’ll forever be enshrined in PBR history as one of the rankest bulls to endure the tour.
Throughout 31 historic years of rank PBR action, there have been just 38 instances where a bovine athlete has been able to produce a 48-point bull score.
Remembering Bushwacker
And with the three-time World Champion Bull having claimed three of them, it shows just how dominant the talented bucker really was.
Better yet, just 11 of said 38 rank outs managed to surpass the 48-point bull score mark, with Bushwacker’s pair of standout performances back in the day officially qualifying him amongst even rarer company, as the athlete is one of just two bovines to earn multiple 48-plus-point bull scores in PBR history.
Taking a closer look at one of the best to ever do it’s Top 7-scored outs as we celebrate his life, honors and all that he’s accomplished, it’s time to revisit the history books!
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No. T6: 47.5 points vs. Austin Meier (2013)
Sure, being associated with legendary bulls like Bushwacker, Woopaa and beyond can be a good thing sometimes. Unfortunately for Austin Meier, who attempted the three-time Champion several times throughout their respective careers, he continuously found himself on the wrong side of the scoring sheets (often introduced to the dirt, like most of Bushwacker’s opponents, in less than four seconds). And while Meier went on to exit the Dickies Iron Cowboy IV in Arlington, Texas, with an event win (despite being thrown to the dirt in a quick 2.67 seconds), he wasn’t able to survive what became one of the bull’s top-ranked performances. Getting a bit vertical during his second jump out of the gates, Bushwacker reminded folks that his dynasty was alive and well.
Austin Meier wins Iron Cowboy on Bushwacker
No. T6: 47.5 points vs. J.B. Mauney (2011)
When your nickname is The “Dragon Slayer,” it’s common knowledge that you’ve enjoyed your fair share of success in the win column as one of the industry’s greatest cowboys, no doubt. However, J.B. Mauney was never one to back down to a challenger, regularly opting into another opportunity to dance with the prized bovine. Once again, however, it was Bushwacker who did his thing en route to getting his 2011 World Finals showing started in a BIG way.
Bushwacker scores 47.5 points vs. J.B. Mauney
No. T4: 47.75 points vs. Austin Meier (2011)
In a “Go big or go home” world, Austin Meier had plenty of size and ability when it came to besting the rankest bulls in the business. But when it came to showdowns against Bushwacker, it was the latter who regularly put on a big show. Finding himself matched against said competitor two years before winning the 2013 iteration of the very same event (listed above), he no doubt gave everything he had. But, generally speaking, any given rider’s best effort rarely matched the greatness Bushwacker produced each and every time he exited the chutes! Flinging Meier to the ground in a speedy 2.37 seconds, he continued to showcase his top-tier talents throughout his flashy 2011 campaign. The first of his three honors.
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No. T4: 47.75 points vs. J.B. Mauney (2011)
If it seems like we’re ping-ponging between the same two riders … it’s because we are, as there weren’t many riders back in the day who elected to head-to-head showdowns with one of the greatest to ever do it. And while J.B. Mauney and the legendary Bushwacker had plenty of history over the years, this out represents one of the many consecutive buckoffs the four-legged Champion achieved, rather than the epic out which saw Mauney bring said streak to an end! This one featured a high-flying Mauney lose his positioning early, quickly slammed forward and into a spinning 360 before eventually getting hung up in his bull rope. Any time you do that to one of the better guys on tour, the judges remember that, and respectively scored the bucking bovine a quality 47.5-point bull score for the high-kicking out.
WRECK: J.B. Mauney gets flipped off Bushwacker
No. 3: 48 points vs. Mike Lee (2013)
Everything means more in a 15-man bucking battle ... and this showdown between veteran Mike Lee and the ever-talented Bushwacker surely was no exception as the dazzling duo teamed up back in 2013. A pair of World Champions in their own right, Lee had every right to be excited for the top-tier matchup. But after being whipped to the ground in a blazing fast 3.31 seconds, Bushwacker proved exactly why he's rankest of three-time champions.
RELATED: Behind the Lens: World Champion Bull Bushwacker
No. 2: 48.25 points vs. Ben Jones (2013)
Despite dozens of bulls having turned in matching 48-point efforts over the past three decades, Bushwacker’s dance with Ben Jones back in 2013 continues to serve as the one and only bull score to come in at 48.25 points! Fans in the greater Kentucky region have witnessed chart-topping rides in the past, 100%. But this one will forever remain one of the biggest to be thrown down in Louisville, as Bushwacker didn’t waste ANY time in letting Jones know it wasn’t his day. Absolutely exploding from the chutes with a vengeance, he made quick work of Jones, sending him to the dirt in a brief 2.04 seconds before taking home yet another event-high performance.
TOP BULL SCORE: Bushwacker 48.25 points
No. 1: 48.5 points vs. Cord McCoy (2011)
Teaming up with current-day CBS Sports Network broadcast analyst and former cowboy Cord McCoy, Bushwacker’s 48.5-point bull score remains ranked as the industry’s fourth-best mark all-time. Anytime you’re revered alongside fellow greats like Little Yellow Jacket, Dillinger and beyond, you know you’re doing something right! While his season-long efforts had positioned the next-level bucker for the long run, it was this slice of heaven which ultimately shut the door on the competitive pack, as the eye-popping out eventually fueled Bushwacker to the first of his three World Championships. The best part? This was only the beginning for the eventual three-time Champ!
Bushwacker puts up 48.5 points vs. Cord McCoy
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media