PBR World Finals Return to Fort Worth’s Dickies Arena May 12-21 to Conclude 30th Anniversary Season, Crown the 2023 PBR World Champion

By: Kacie Albert

FORT WORTH, Texas – This May, the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) World Finals will return to Fort Worth, Texas, for the second consecutive season. The seven-day marathon event will take over Dickies Arena May 12-14 and 18-21, to conclude the 30th anniversary individual season and crown the 2023 PBR World Champion.

During the 2023 season, the PBR is celebrating its 30th anniversary since 20 cowboys broke away from the traditional rodeo with the belief that bull riding could be a standalone sport. Since their trailblazing initiative, the PBR has grown into a global phenomenon awarding nearly $300 million in prize money.

When the World Finals debuted in Fort Worth in May 2022, fans witnessed one of the most ferocious championship races in PBR history for both riders and bulls.

Riding an incredible post-season wave of momentum, Daylon Swearingen (Piffard, New York) capped a dominant season by winning the 2022 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast to be crowned the 2022 PBR World Champion.

As the 2022 PBR World Finals got underway, Swearingen bucked off in Round 1, surrendering his world No. 1 rank, but he then rode six bulls in a row to pull away from the field.

Locked in a ride-for-ride battle with Joao Ricardo Vieira (Itatinga, Brazil) to begin the event, and Kaique Pacheco (Itatiba, Brazil) in the final rounds, the 2022 PBR World Championship came down to the final two outs of the event.

When Championship Sunday got underway with Round 7, Swearingen and Pacheco, the 2018 World Champion, both converted, leaving the gold buckle up for grabs in the final round.

For their final outs of the season, Swearingen was tasked with Mike’s Magic (Five Star Ranch/BS Cattle), while Pacheco readied to face off against Manaba (Joe & Nina Webb/Julian/D&H Cattle Co.) in a must-ride situation.

When Pacheco was brought down by Manaba in 5.9 seconds, Swearingen clinched the 2022 PBR World Championship before even readying his rope.

Despite being brought down in 2.05 seconds and getting roughed up by the rampaging bull, Swearingen’s gutsy 6-for-8 showing at the event earned him the World Finals event title and his career-first PBR World Championship.

Swearingen is now just the seventh rider to capture both honors in the same season. He is the 20th different rider – and 12th American – to claim the PBR World Champion gold buckle since the sport’s first championship in 1994.

Throughout 2022, Swearingen went an impressive 26-for-60, covering 43.33% of his animal athlete opponents. He earned $1,697,481.63, including $1,394,000 for his career-first PBR World Championship and World Finals event win.

A complete list of past PBR World Champions includes: Jose Vitor Leme (2020, 2021), Jess Lockwood (2017, 2019), Kaique Pacheco (2018), Cooper Davis (2016), J.B. Mauney (2013, 2015), Silvano Alves (2011, 2012, 2014), Renato Nunes (2010), Kody Lostroh (2009), Guilherme Marchi (2008), Justin McBride (2005, 2007), Adriano Moraes (1994, 2001, 2006), Mike Lee (2004), Chris Shivers (2000, 2003), Ednei Caminhas (2002), Cody Hart (1999), Troy Dunn (1998), Michael Gaffney (1997), Owen Washburn (1996) and Tuff Hedeman (1995).

A complete list of past PBR World Finals event winners includes: Leme (2017, 2021), Boudreaux Campbell (2020), Lockwood (2019), Marco Eguchi (2018), Ryan Dirteater (2016), Davis (2015), Alves (2014), Mauney (2009, 2013), Robson Palermo (2008, 2011, 2012), Nunes (2010), Wiley Petersen (2007), L.J. Jenkins (2006), Marchi (2005), Lee (2004), Jody Newberry (2003), J.W. Hart (2002), Luke Snyder (2001), Tater Porter (2000), Ty Murray (1999), Reed Corder (1998), Dunn (1995, 1997) and Ronny Kitchens (1996).

In 2022, the battle between the organization’s animal athletes was also fierce, with Ridin Solo (Cord McCoy/Bill McCarty) emerging the best to be anointed the 2022 YETI PBR World Champion Bull.

Ridin Solo began the World Finals tied with then-reigning World Champion Bull Woopaa (Barker Bulls/Hookin’ W Ranch) for the world No. 1 rank.

First bucking in Round 2, compliments of his 45-point effort with Josh Frost (Randlett, Utah), Ridin Solo broke his tie with Woopaa for the top rank, pulling ahead by 0.25 points.

Ridin Solo and Woopaa then returned to the lineup in Round 4. In what was the third-best bull score of the 2022 PBR World Finals, Ridin Solo was marked 47 points, while Woopaa was awarded just 45.25, allowing Ridin Solo to further grow his lead.

On Championship Sunday, Ridin Solo was unrivaled.

Drawn by Vieira, the Cord McCoy standout quickly upended the Brazilian in 4.8 seconds to earn his second 47-point bull score of the weekend.

Ridin Solo’s head-turning out, coupled with Woopaa’s 41.75-point trip that earned Luciano de Castro (Guzolandia, Brazil) a re-ride, clinched the 2022 YETI PBR World Champion Bull honor and accompanying $100,000 bonus for the striking animal athlete.

Ridin Solo concluded the 2022 season with a 46.47-point world average, 0.69 points ahead of runner-up Woopaa.

The bull riding action for the 2023 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast begins with Rounds 1-2 on Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13 at 7:45 p.m. CT, followed by Round 3 on Sunday, May 14 at 1:45 p.m. CT. The season-end event will continue with Rounds 4-6 on Thursday, May 18, Friday, May 19 and Saturday, May 20 at 7:45 p.m. CT, and come to a climactic end with Round 7 and the championship round on Sunday, May 21 at 1:45 p.m. CT.

The first six rounds will feature all 40 competing riders matched against the toughest bulls. Following the conclusion of Round 6 on Saturday, May 20, a minimum of 30 riders will advance to Round 7 on Sunday, May 21. All riders who record a score in the previous rounds will advance. Should that field be fewer than 30 contenders, riders will be drawn back by world rank until the 30-rider round is filled.

Following Round 7, the scores from the seven outs will be combined and the Top 12 riders will advance for an additional round of competition. Following the championship round, the rider with the top aggregate score at the event will be named the 2023 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast event winner, and the rider with the most Unleash The Beast points will be crowned the 2023 PBR World Champion, earning the coveted gold buckle.

The PBR World Finals is bull riding’s richest event. In addition to paying out the $1 million bonus to the 2023 PBR World Champion, the World Finals event winner will receive $300,000 and each round winner will collect $35,000.

Single-day tickets for the 2023 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast event go on sale now, and start at $46, plus fees. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com and PBR.com, at the Dickies Arena Box Office or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727. The Dickies Arena Box Office is open Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. CT and on event days.

PBR Elite Seats are available to provide close access to the action and an exclusive VIP experience. These tickets, available in three tiers, offer premium seats, personal on-site concierge at the PBR fan loyalty booth, concession or merchandise voucher and photo with the Jerome Robinson Cup.

• PBR Bronze Elite Seats ($487.10) are positioned in the second row and also include a commemorative credential and lanyard.
• PBR Silver Elite Seats ($706.10) are in the first row of Dickies Arena and include dedicated in-seat service. Patrons with these seats will also have access to an exclusive VIP entrance and parking. They will also be able to partake in night hospitality, including food and beverage, and the elite seat pre-show experience, and receive a 30th anniversary season collectible watch.
• In addition to all the above-mentioned amenities, PBR Gold Elite Seats ($926.10) offer the best views in the venue and an exclusive 30th anniversary season hat.

As an add-on experience, fans can also purchase the official 2023 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast Bull Housing Tour ($100). The tour is available on May 12-13 and May 19-20. The experience, which includes a commemorative credential and lanyard, will get fans up close and personal with the World Finals-qualified bucking bulls and the top stock contractors of the PBR.

The 2023 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast Bull Housing Tour can be purchased by calling customer service at 800-732-1727 or by visiting https://pbr.com/premium-seats-exp.

For more information about the 2023 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast and to see the complete event schedule, visit https://bit.ly/23pbrworldfinals.

Photo coutesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media

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