FORT WORTH, Texas – For as long as we can remember, Monster Energy and PBR have gone hand-in-hand in bringing the most talented bull riders in the world to state-of-the-art arenas throughout our great country. 

And as our nation votes in the next presidential nominee to lead the United States of America into its next chapter of greatness, Monster Energy and PBR are teaming up once more by bringing some additional fireworks to the circuit’s already rank Unleash The Beast slate.

With some additional help from our friends at Camping World, that is!

Enter the Monster Energy Team Challenge presented by Camping World, which is set to pit each of the 10 PBR Camping World Team Series squads against their fiercest rivals from the summer slate throughout the quickly approaching 2025 premier series season. 

RELATED: PBR announces Monster Energy Team Challenge Presented by Camping World, adding team bull riding games to Unleash The Beast tour

With the sport’s typical individual season welcoming some camaraderie-driven action to more than half of its upcoming events, the unique 15-game series will be baked directly into premier series competition. 

Kicking things up a notch from the summer slate’s traditional 5-on-5 slate, the first-of-its-kind hybrid format will bring a 6 vs. 6 battle to the forefront of opening night action, with the final 12 outs of Round 1 providing an opportunity for riders to both give their team a leg up while serving as the riders’ night one score. 

And while each of the league’s 10 teams have two or more riders currently slated to begin their respective campaigns as a UTB qualifier, there’s only one team set to begin the season with six guys above the cutline, meaning PBR will be inviting several PBR Teams-based riders to compete in said select premier series showdowns despite technically being qualified.

Which is very much an opportunity for up and coming riders or guys outside the bubble to not only show they belong but a vital chance for them to earn official UTB points in an effort to qualify for their own qualifier spot, if not forge a path to the 2025 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast. 

Naturally, the series kicks off inside one of the most endeared venues in all of sports Jan. 3 when the tour invades Madison Square Garden Jan. 3-5 for its first event of the new calendar year.

Featuring a showdown against the hometown New York Mavericks and fellow East Coast-based Florida Freedom, fans will get to see 2024 PBR Teams MVP John Crimber and company rocking their red, white and blue uniforms Friday night as the youthful contingents reignite their rivalry. 

With the unique series set to fuel the fires for each of circuit’s other four sets of familiar foes, including the Arizona Ridge Riders/Oklahoma Wildcatters, Austin Gamblers/Texas Rattlers, Carolina Cowboys/Nashville Stampede and Kansas City Outlaws/Missouri Thunder, fans will get to enjoy some potential glimpses of lingering Texas Cup let-downs and plenty of Show Me State Showdown sadness from the recently-capped 2024 campaign, as each of the squads will compete against fixed opponents three times throughout the season.

While riders who participate in said outs will receive a few extra bucks for helping the series launch in epic fashion, teams are primarily fighting for bragging rights and any “offseason” momentum they can build with their brothers in the locker room.

(Arizona/Oklahoma 2024 Regular Season Record: Arizona 2-1)
Naturally, the veteran-heavy Arizona Ridge Riders squad outproduced J.B. Mauney’s youthful contingent of future stars during the Wildcatters’ inaugural trip around the country. But when you consider they posted a mere 2-1 advantage means there’s plenty of room for Oklahoma to pull off a couple wins here within the Unleash The Beast season. Both of these plenty-talented teams failed to qualify for 2024 PBR Teams Championship, so this trio of matchups should feature plenty of guys ready to redeem themselves from down seasons.

(Austin/Texas 2024 Regular Season Record: Texas 2-1)
While the Texas Rattlers weren’t able to successful defend their 2023 PBR Teams Championship, they still managed to capture the first-ever Texas Cup between the Lone Star State competitors by besting the Austin Gamblers in two of three regular season meet-ups. However, that didn’t hurt the Gamblers’ momentum too much, as the green and black group eventually went on to win the 2024 edition of season-culminating action. Pitting the two most recent PBR Teams Champions against each other three more times this winter? You won’t want to miss these showcases. 

(Carolina/Nashville 2024 Regular Season Record: Carolina 2-1)
This rivalry might not be as intense as a few of the other “no-brainer” matchups … but we can confirm these squads are amongst the most competitive on tour, 100%. Justin McBride and Jerome Davis aren’t used to losing very often. Despite Carolina capturing a 2-1 regular season series advantage in 2024 over the Stampede, we’ve got a feeling Kaiden Young and company will rise to the occasion as they prepare to endure their first slate of competitions without three-time World Champion and team leader, Silvano Alves, who announced his retirement last month. 

(Florida/New York 2024 Regular Season Record: New York 2-1)
The new kids on the block from New York may have enjoyed a 2-1 record against the red, white and blue contingent from down south. Which included spoiling what would’ve been a flawless homestand debut for Florida early in the season. But after seeing the Freedom send home New York early into the 2024 PBR Teams Championship, we have a chance Florida may have the leg up here.

(Kansas City/Missouri 2024 Regular Season Record: Kansas City 2-1) 
After taking care of business during the regular season en route to capturing a 2-1 Show Me State Showdown record this time around, the regular season Champion Kansas City Outlaws put the finishing touches on their one-sided matchup during the ever-dramatic postseason gauntlet. Posting a convincing 262.5-88 win over Missouri on night two inside T-Mobile Arena, the orange and black continued their success against their in-state rival. Exactly what they’ll look to do when the teams meet for their first Monster Energy Team Challenge presented by Camping World showcase. 

Fans can read on to find out where and when they’ll have an opportunity to cheer on their camaraderie-driven squads in-person during the premier series slate for the first time in PBR history!

Florida Freedom vs. New York Mavericks 
Jan. 3: New York, New York (Madison Square Garden)
Feb. 22: Jacksonville, Florida (VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena)
April 26: Tacoma, Washington (Tacoma Dome)

Austin Gamblers vs. Texas Rattlers
Jan. 17: Houston, Texas (Toyota Center)
March 28: Albuquerque, New Mexico (The Pit)
April 18: Nampa, Idaho (Ford Idaho Center)

Arizona Ridge Riders vs. Oklahoma Wildcatters
Jan. 24: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (PPG Paints Arena)
Feb. 7: Salt Lake City, Utah (Delta Center)
March 21: Palm Springs, California (Acrisure Arena)

Carolina Cowboys vs. Nashville Stampede
Jan. 10: Chicago, Illinois (Allstate Arena)
March 15: Louisville, Kentucky (KFC Yum! Center)
April 4: Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Denny Sanford PREMIER Center) 

Kansas City Outlaws vs. Missouri Thunder
Jan. 31: Sacramento, California (Golden 1 Center)
Feb. 14: Indianapolis, Indiana (Gainbridge Fieldhouse)
March 8: North Little Rock, Arkansas (Simmons Bank Arena) 

Fans can stay tuned to PBR.com and @PBR social media channels for more information on the Monster Energy Team Challenge, 2025 Unleash The Beast action and 2024 PBR Canada National Finals action, as our neighbors to the north prepare to crown a 2024 Champion Nov. 8-9. 

And with Arizona Ridge Riders’ standout Nick Tetz entering the season-culminating showdown ranked No. 2 as he looks to capture his second-straight honors, stateside fans have plenty to tune in for! 

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media