2021 World Champion Bull Woopaa Officially Retires Monday Evening
By: James Youness
PUEBLO, Colo. – With Monday evening’s news of one of the industry’s most beloved bovines set to hang em’ up, it’s with a teary eye that PBR.com salutes Woopaa and his legendary career as the Barker Bulls / Hookin’ W Ranch product has retired from professional bucking, courtesy of his official Instagram page:
View this post on Instagram
The 2021 World Champion Bull and 2020 ABBI Classic World Champion had a knack for big rides. Or should we say, a knack for the record books?
Specifically, one record sticks out when Woopaa comes to mind: The highest-marked score in PBR history.
Teaming up with two-time World Champion Jose Vitor Leme, a few times, really, Woopaa will forever be remembered for challenging some of the best bull riders in the world with an elite set of skills rarely seen within a single bull.
Intense athleticism, next-level wisdom, pure talent and the will to be the best; a few of the descriptors used in describing the All-World talent.
While the bull himself was a bit of an outlier when it came to talent and capability, it was the rider relationships forged throughout his career that helped both the bovine and collective industry take it to the next level.
“For me, Woopaa means a lot because we have a lot of history together,” Leme shared in Wisconsin, Milwaukee during the PBR Brew City Classic.
“Ever since we had a few of those matchups, my life has changed. I’m so glad to have been able to compete against him. He helped me to earn those rides and accomplishments.”
It’s not often that we get to watch history unravel itself in live time, properly appreciating the opportunity to take in some of the outs that will now live on as legends.
With rumors swirling inside Fiserv Forum two weekends ago regarding the bull’s potential retirement, there were a few extra phones recording when Leme and Woopaa teamed up for what would be their fifth and final showdown. But we’ll save that story for another day …
Today is all about celebrating one of the most athletic bulls to ever grace the PBR, and to that, we tip our hats to one of the greatest ever. Here’s to you, 124!
Fans can stay tuned to PBR.com and PBR social media channels throughout the week for additional content surrounding the 2021 World Champion’s retirement, including stories from those who took care of the bull, quotes from riders who competed against the legendary bovine and beyond.
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media
© 2023 PBR Inc. All rights reserved.