Nashville Stampede Mount Cinderella Run Through PBR Team Series Championship to be Crowned the League’s Inaugural Champions

Regular-season No. 8 Stampede beat the No. 1 Austin Gamblers, No. 2 Texas Rattlers, presented by Ariat, No. 3 Oklahoma Freedom and No. 5 Arizona Ridge Riders en route to the national title

LAS VEGAS – The Nashville Stampede, who entered the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series playoffs in last place, proved that it’s not how a team starts a season, it’s how they finish, in winning the inaugural PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series Championship.

 

The Nashville contingent, stacked with talent including riders with four combined PBR World Championships, continually disappointed throughout the regular season, finishing 7-20-1. But the squad caught fire and was dominant in the eight-team tournament in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena. After concluding the regular-season last in the league standings, the Stampede delivered a historic Cinderella run through the progressive elimination tournament, riding upset wins against the Top 3 teams to be crowned the first-ever PBR Team Series Champions.

 

“It’s crazy,” said Nashville Stampede Head Coach Justin McBride dirtside. “I got to win two individual titles as a bull rider in this sport, and it’s nothing compared to this. The buckle is awesome, but for me, it’s about these guys who never gave up and finished on top.”

 

Before the final games, McBride delivered an epic amped-up pregame speech now going viral on social media.

 

The Nashville Stampede began their march to victory Friday evening when they faced off against the No. 3 Oklahoma Freedom. The gritty contingent rode three bulls to stun the Freedom, defeating the powerhouse team by one ride score, 264.75-176, to advance in the team tournament. The Stampede’s performance was headlined by scores from Ryan Dirteater, who came out of retirement to seek his first championship, Cladson Rodolfo and 2018 World Champion Kaique Pacheco.

 

As competition continued in Round 2, the Stampede were locked in a David vs. Goliath showdown with the No. 1 Austin Gamblers. Continuing their impressive run through the tournament, the Stampede bested the Gamblers by one ride score, 265-175.25, to earn the first direct berth to the Semifinals.

 

On Championship Sunday, the Stampede then went head-to-head with the No. 2 Texas Rattlers, presented by Ariat, in the first Semifinal showdown. Compliments of an early score from Joao Henrique Lucas, and a 90-point, fifth-frame ride from Pacheco, the Stampede punched their ticket to the title game with a 178.5-90.25 win.

 

The Stampede’s fate then came down to the Championship Game against the No. 5 Arizona Ridge Riders. Delivering three qualified rides from Dirteater, three-time World Champion Silvano Alves and Pacheco, the Stampede defeated Arizona 264-182.75, completing their come-from-behind surge to be crowned the inaugural PBR Team Series Champions.

Looking down the league standings, following Semifinal losses, the Texas Rattlers and Oklahoma Freedom squared off in the Third-Place Game. Outscoring Oklahoma by two rides, the Rattlers concluded the 2022 season third, beating the Freedom 270-86.75.

 

PBR RidePass on Pluto TV will offer replays of all the PBR Team Series action from Las Vegas. Check https://pluto.tv/en/live-tv/pbr-ridepass for the latest programming schedule.

SCORE BULLETINS:

 

No. 8 Nashville Stampede’s Cinderella Run at the PBR Team Series Marches on With Upset Victory Against No. 2 Texas Rattlers in the Semifinals of the PBR Team Series Championship

 

Nashville Stampede: 178.5

Texas Rattlers: 90.25

 

Photos (Courtesy Bull Stock Media): Click here to download.

B-Roll (Courtesy PBR): Click here to download.

 

LAS VEGAS – The No. 8 Nashville Stampede continued their Cinderella run through the inaugural PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series Championship Sunday afternoon, beating the No. 2 Texas Rattlers, presented by Ariat, 178.5-90.25, to punch their ticket to the Championship Game. The Stampede have now knocked off the Top 3 teams from the regular season standings, first beating the No. 3 Oklahoma Freedom in Round 1, followed by a commanding win against the No. 1 Austin Gamblers in Round 2. The Stampede set the tone early for the game, converting in their very first out. Matched with Express Lane (Classic Jack Cattle/Viducic Bucking Bulls), Joao Henrique Lucas (Bastos, Brazil) reached the requisite 8 for a crucial 87.75 points. In the bottom of the first, the Rattlers were denied a score as Brady Oleson (Blackfoot, Idaho) slapped Mr. Winston (Dakota Rodeo/Mark Baker/Clay Struve/Chad Berger) at the 6.08-second mark. The scoreboard then went unchanged through the second and third, with neither team finding success, setting up a high-pressure final two frames of the game. In the top of the fourth, three-time PBR World Champion Silvano Alves (Pilar do Sul, Brazil) hoped to right the tide for the Stampede. However, he was upended by Baptism By Fire (BMC Bucking Bulls/Jenkins Cattle Co.) in 6.13 seconds, opening the door for Texas, who then capitalized when Cody Jesus (Window Rock, Arizona) delivered their first score in monstrous fashion. Matching HomeBru (D&H Cattle Co./Buck Cattle Co.) jump-for-jump, Jesus reached the whistle for 90.25 points as the crowd erupted. Compliments of the ride, the Rattlers took their first lead of the game by 2.5 points. Stampede closer and 2018 PBR World Champion Kaique Pacheco (Itatiba, Brazil) was then in a must-ride position as he settled in atop Moonlight Party (Jane Clark/Gene Owen). Rising to the occasion for his team, Pacheco appeared to have made the 8. However, the trip immediately went into official review, and Pacheco was deemed to have reached the whistle. Marked a mammoth 90.75 points, Pacheco put the Stampede back in front by 88.25 points. Needing a walk-off score, Rattlers closer Daniel Keeping (Gorman, Texas) climbed atop Choc Tease (Cody Ohl, Robert & Angel Myers) and burst from the chute, centered until a mid-out stumble by Choc Tease upended the Texan and caused him to slap. The Rattlers, however, had their title hopes renewed when the officials awarded the team a re-ride due to the bull’s foul. Head Coach Cody Lambert elected to keep Keeping in the high-pressure situation, architecting a matchup between him and Theodore (Lari Crane/Gene Owen). Keeping, however, was unable to conquer the powerful animal athlete, brought down in 5.77 seconds and ending the Rattlers’ hopes of becoming the inaugural PBR Team Series Champion. With the victory in hand, the No. 8 Nashville Stampede earned the first berth to the Championship Game, where they would play the No. 5 Arizona Ridge Riders, while the No. 2 Texas Rattlers readied for the Third-Place Game, slated to take on the No. 3 Oklahoma Freedom.

 

No. 5 Arizona Ridge Riders Earn Come-From-Behind Victory Against No. 3 Oklahoma Freedom to Advance to the Championship Game of the PBR Team Series Championship

 

Arizona Ridge Riders: 176.25

Oklahoma Freedom: 89.25

 

Photos (Courtesy Bull Stock Media): Click here to download.

B-Roll (Courtesy PBR): Click here to download.

 

LAS VEGAS – The No. 5 Arizona Ridge Riders earned the final berth to the Championship Game at the inaugural PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series Championship Sunday afternoon, logging a come-from-behind, fifth-frame victory against the No. 3 Oklahoma Freedom. When the dust settled, the Ridge Riders won by 87 points, besting the Freedom 176.25-89.25. As the game got underway, the Ridge Riders started J.T. Moore (Alvin, Texas) for the first time in the 2022 season. Moore, however, was no match for Tiger (Blake Sharp/Henry Wilson), bested in a heartbreaking 7.71 seconds. Chase Outlaw (Hamburg, Arkansas) then settled in atop Bubba G (Dakota Rodeo/Brian & Ashley Pintar/Clay Struve/Chad Berger) as the Freedom prepared for their first out. Outlaw reached the 8 for a game-best 89.25 points, striking early for Oklahoma. The Ridge Riders were quick to respond in the top of the second. Matched with Gangster Time (Classic Jack Cattle/Viducic Bucking Bulls), Eduardo Aparecido (Gouvelandia, Brazil) logged Arizona’s first points, marked 87 points. With Oklahoma’s lead lessened to 2.25 points, Trevor Kastner (Ardmore, Oklahoma) was keen to continue his team’s momentum but was brought down in 4.66 seconds aboard Chiseled (Flinn/D&H Cattle Co.). The scoreboard then went unchanged through the third and fourth, setting up a high-pressure fifth frame as the final Championship Game berth was on the line. In a must-ride position, Luciano De Castro (Guzolandia, Brazil) was tasked with Big Black (K-C Bucking Bulls/Joe & Nina Webb). Rising to the occasion for his team, Castro conquered the powerful animal athlete for a crucial 89.25 points to give Arizona its first lead of the game, pulling ahead of Oklahoma by 87 points, 176.25-89.25. In the final out of the Semifinal game, Oklahoma closer Derek Kolbaba (Walla Walla, Washington) was matched with Born To Sin (Logan Clancey/Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger). Kolbaba entered the matchup having delivered game-winning walk-off scores in a league-leading four prior games. As the chute gates burst open, Kolbaba was quickly upended. Unable to right himself, he hit the ground in a quick 3.07 seconds as the Arizona Ridge Riders bench erupted in cheer. The No. 5 Arizona Ridge Riders returned to the locker room and prepared to play the No.  8 Nashville Stampede in the Championship Game. The No. 3 Oklahoma Freedom advanced to the Third-Place Game where they would play the No. 2 Texas Rattlers, presented by Ariat.

 

Texas Rattlers Defeat Oklahoma Freedom to Finish Third in the Inaugural PBR Team Series Standings

 

Texas Rattlers: 270

Oklahoma Freedom: 86.75

 

B-Roll (Courtesy PBR): Click here to download.

 

LAS VEGAS – Outscoring the rival Oklahoma Freedom by two rides, the Texas Rattlers, presented by Ariat, concluded the inaugural PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series season third, winning the Third-Place Game at the Championship event, 270-86.75. After a slow start to the game, with neither team converting in the first, Oklahoma looked to Trevor Kastner (Ardmore, Oklahoma) while Texas turned to 2002 PBR World Champion Ednei Caminhas (Indaiatuba, Brazil) as both remained on the hunt for their first score. Kastner was unable to replicate his past success atop Sneaky Situation (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger), bucked off in 5.89 seconds. In the bottom of the second, 47-year-old phenom Caminhas delivered for the Rattlers, conquering Shake & Bake (Blake Sharp/Floyd/Utz/Farris) for 89.25 points to give his team an early lead. The scoreboard went unchanged in the third, with Texas remaining 89.25 points ahead as each team had just two riders remaining. In the top of the fourth, Freedom first-round draft pick Eli Vastbinder (Statesville, North Carolina) reversed his team’s momentum, pulling Oklahoma within 2.5 points of the lead via his 86.75-point ride on Happy Gambler (Sho-Me Rodeo/Austin). The Rattlers, however, responded in the very next out. Rafael Jose de Brito (Potirendaba, Brazil) matched Mr. Right Now (Silent 7/Hilton Bull Co.) jump-for-jump, scored a mammoth 91 points as the capacity crowd burst into cheer. The out, however, was not without dramatics. Freedom Head Coach Cord McCoy challenged the call, but the ride stood, and the Rattlers expanded their lead to 93.5 points. No stranger to must-ride moments, Derek Kolbaba (Walla Walla, Washington) was again in the closer role for the Freedom. Needing a score of 93.75 points or more to keep Oklahoma’s hopes of victory alive, Kolbaba settled in atop Wasted Nights (Hale Cattle Co.). The calm and steady Washington native, however, was no match for the powerful animal athlete, sent airborne in 4.77 seconds. Via the buckoff, the Rattlers clinched the game win and third-place finish overall in the league’s inaugural season. With one out remaining, Daniel Keeping (Gorman, Texas) added the cherry on top of the win when he conquered John 14:6 (Braswell Buckers/Burkham Contracting Inc.) for 89.75 points. When the dust settled, the Texas Rattlers won by 183.25 points, 270-86.75.

 

Nashville Stampede Complete Cinderella Run at PBR Team Series Championship with Victory Over the Arizona Ridge Riders to be Crowned the League’s Inaugural Champions

 

Nashville Stampede: 264

Arizona Ridge Riders: 182.75

 

B-Roll (Courtesy PBR): Click here to download.

 

LAS VEGAS – Relying on big rides from two PBR World Champions with four combined world titles and a veteran rider who came out of retirement to seek his first world championship, the Nashville Stampede completed their historic Cinderella run through the inaugural PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series Championship Sunday afternoon, defeating the Arizona Ridge Riders by one ride score to be crowned the first-ever PBR Team Series Champions. The Stampede swept the progressive elimination tournament, defeating the regular-season No. 3 Oklahoma Freedom, No. 1 Austin Gamblers and No. 2 Texas Rattlers, presented by Ariat, in the opening rounds of the tournament en route to the national title. When the game commenced inside an electric T-Mobile Arena, Joao Henrique Lucas (Bastos, Brazil) led off for Nashville, while Alisson De Souza (Taubate, Brazil) was out first for Arizona. Lucas came down aboard Skippy (Skippy & Linda Johnson/Jaynes Gang/Hookin’ W Ranch) in a heartbreaking 7 seconds, while Souza was upended by Mike’s Motive (Blake Sharp/High Voltage/Wetzel/Knott) in 4.59 seconds, and the scoreboard read 0-0 as the second got underway. Nashville then looked to Cladson Rodolfo (Pilar do Sul, Brazil) atop I’m Legit Too (Hale Cattle Co.) to give the team its first points. Rodolfo, however, was unable to answer the call, brought down in 4.91 seconds. With the chance to take an early lead, Eduardo Aparecido (Gouvelandia, Brazil) stepped up for Arizona, covering Pickle Moonshine (Shuler Bucking Bulls) for a monstrous 91.5 points. As the game approached the midway point, 11-time PBR World Finals qualifier Ryan Dirteater (Hulbert, Oklahoma) climbed atop the chutes determined to start a wave of winning momentum for Nashville. Matched with Hundred Bad Days (TNT Bucking Bulls) by Head Coach Justin McBride, Dirteater remained in total control, matching the bull jump-for-jump en route to the whistle. In what would prove to be the final out of his storied career (Dirteater announced his return to retirement at game’s end), the fan-favorite rider known as “The Cherokee Kid” was awarded 88.5 points to pull Nashville within 3 points of the lead. Keen to add to their total, the Ridge Riders’ Keyshawn Whitehorse (McCracken Spring, Utah) then closed out the third aboard Whiplash (Blake Sharp/Floyd Lowery/CB & Traci Lee). Whitehorse, however, was routed in 3.24 seconds, with the scoreboard reading 91.5-88.5 at the top of the fourth.

 

With each team having just two outs remaining, the Stampede slotted three-time PBR World Champion Silvano Alves (Pilar do Sul, Brazil) in their penultimate roster position. The man who has made more than $4 million in Las Vegas settled in aboard Hunter (Dozier Cattle Co./Martinez Bucking Bulls). Erupting from the chutes, Alves remained centered, dancing with the bull en route to the 8-second buzzer for a critical 85.5 points. Following the score, Nashville took their first lead in the game by 82.5 points. In the bottom of the fourth, it was Vitor Losnake (Bauru, Brazil) atop Top Shelf (P. Ro Ranch/OK Corralis/Gordon/D&H Cattle) for the Ridge Riders. While Losnake was initially deemed to have earned a score, yellow flags flew, sending the trip into official review. Losnake was deemed to have slapped Top Shelf when he was yanked forward at the 5.33-second mark, resulting in no score for Arizona. In the fifth, with Nashville up by one bull, 2018 PBR World Champion and Stampede closer Kaique Pacheco (Itatiba, Brazil) had the chance to clinch the PBR Team Series Championship early for his team. Tasked with Tijuana Two-Step (M Rafter E Bucking Bulls), the “Ice Man” was laser-focused and covered the bull for a monstrous 90 points to cement the title for Nashville. The Stampede bench cleared as they began to celebrate dirtside. While their title hopes were dashed, the Arizona Ridge Riders closed the game strong as Luciano De Castro (Guzolandia, Brazil) rode Montana Jacket (Berg/Coleman/Ogden) for a commanding 91.25 points. When the dust settled, Nashville proved that in the PBR Team Series, it’s not how a team starts, it’s how they finish. The last-place team coming into the playoffs that stayed positive and refused to quit won the inaugural PBR Team Series Championship via their 183.25-point defeat of Arizona, 264-182.75.

About the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series:

The PBR Team Series is an elite new league that features the world’s top bull riders competing on teams in five-on-five bull riding games during an 11-event season beginning in July and culminating in a team championship at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas November 4-6.  During the 2022 season, each of the eight teams representing teams in Austin, TX; Fort Worth, TX; Glendale, AZ; Kansas City, MO; Nashville, TN; Oklahoma City, OK; Ridgedale, MO; and Winston-Salem, NC will host a three-day homestand.  There will also be neutral site games in Cheyenne, WY and Anaheim, CA. To determine team rosters, the league held a rider draft on May 23 prior to start of the 2022 season among any bull riders who have declared for the draft during a league eligibility window. The PBR Team Series builds on the existing structure of professional bull riding with the same basic rules for judging and scoring qualified 8-second bull rides. Events will be staged in a tournament-style format with all teams competing in head-to-head matchups against a different opponent each day. Each game will feature five riders per team squaring off against another team. Full team rosters will be comprised of seven riders on the core roster and three practice squad members. The team with the highest aggregate score of qualified rides among its riders will be declared the winner of each game. The event winner will be the team with the most game wins across an event, with a special bonus round designed as a tie-breaker to determine final event standings. All PBR Team Series events will be carried on either the CBS Television Network, streaming live on Paramount+, CBS Sports Network, or RidePass on PlutoTV.