List of Professional Bull Riders Champions


This List of Professional Bull Riders Champions provides lists of all the year-end champions of the Professional Bull Riders, Inc.. There are the World Champion bull riders, World Finals event champions, World Champion bulls, and Rookie of the Year, for example. Also listed are the winners of various awards that are given out at the end of each season. The Professional Bull Riders, Inc. is an international professional bull riding organization based in Fort Worth, Texas, United States. PBR events are televised on CBS and The CW and streamed live on the paywall-based Paramount+ and for free on RidePass on Pluto TV. More than 800 bull riders from the United States, Canada, Brazil, Australia and other countries hold PBR memberships. This article lists all the various champions and awards that have been bestowed since the founding of the PBR in 1992.

World Champion Bull Riders

World Finals Event Champions

Rookie of the Year

  • 1995 J.W. Hart
  • 1996 Ronnie Kitchens
  • 1997 Keith Adams
  • 1998 Pete Hessman
  • 1999 Mike White
  • 2000 Jason Bennett
  • 2001 Luke Snyder
  • 2002 Dan Henricks
  • 2003 Jody Newberry
  • 2004 Zack Brown
  • 2005 Kody Lostroh
  • 2006 J.B. Mauney
  • 2007 Clayton Williams
  • 2008 Reese Cates
  • 2009 Cody Nance
  • 2010 Silvano Alves
  • 2011 Rubens Barbosa
  • 2012 Emilio Resende
  • 2013 João Ricardo Vieira
  • 2014 J. W. Harris
  • 2015 Kaique Pacheco
  • 2016 Jess Lockwood
  • 2017 José Vitor Leme
  • 2018 Keyshawn Whitehorse
  • 2019 Dalton Kasel
  • 2020 Boudreaux Campbell
  • 2021 Eli Vastbinder
  • 2022 Bob Mitchell
  • 2023 Rafael José de Brito
  • 2024 Cássio Dias
  • 2025 Hudson Bolton

World Champion Bull

• Bodacious was also the 1994–1995 PRCA Bucking Bull of the Year. When Sweet Pro's Bruiser won the PRCA Bucking Bull of the Year award for 2017, he and Bodacious became the only bulls to win both the PRCA and PBR titles. Each bull won their two titles in the same year. Bodacious won both of his titles in 1995, while Sweet Pro's Bruiser won both of his titles in 2017.
•• There was actually a tie between Sweet Pro's Bruiser, Sweet Pro's Long John and Pearl Harbor, which was resolved by taking the sum of the bull's best eight outs for the season. That is done according to the PBR rules as the first way to resolve a tiebreaker.

Bull of the World Finals

  • 1996 – Strawberry Wine
  • 1997 – Nitro
  • 1998 – Cash
  • 1999 – Dillinger
  • 1999 – Promise Land
  • 2000 – Promise Land
  • 2001 – Little Yellow Jacket
  • 2002 – Ugly
  • 2003 – Neon Nights
  • 2004 – Crossfire Hurricane
  • 2005 – Pandora's Box
  • 2006 – Lucky Strike
  • 2007 – Chicken on a Chain
  • 2007 – Troubadour
  • 2008 – Bones
  • 2009 – Code Blue
  • 2010 – Bones
  • 2011 – Bushwacker
  • 2012 – Asteroid
  • 2013 – Bushwacker
  • 2014 – No bull awarded
  • 2015 – No bull awarded
  • 2016 – No bull awarded
  • 2017 – Sweet Pro's Bruiser
  • 2018 – Hocus Pocus
  • 2018 – Legit
  • 2019 – Smooth Operator
  • 2020 – I'm Busted
  • 2020 – Smooth Operator
  • 2021 – Woopaa
  • 2022 – Night Hawk
  • 2023 – Ridin' Solo
  • 2024 – Red Demon
  • 2025 – Man Hater

U.S. Touring Pro Division Champions

  • 1995 Tuff Hedeman
  • 1996 Tuff Hedeman
  • 1997 Troy Dunn
  • 1998 Brian Herman
  • 1999 Jason Bennett
  • 2000 Chris Shivers
  • 2001 Paulo Crimber
  • 2002 Adriano Morães
  • 2003 Adriano Morães
  • 2004 Ross Johnson
  • 2005 Edgard Oliveira
  • 2006 J.B. Mauney
  • 2007 Clayton Williams
  • 2008 Clayton Williams
  • 2009 J.B. Mauney
  • 2010 Douglas Duncan
  • 2011 Shane Proctor
  • 2012 Edevaldo Ferreira
  • 2013 Chase Outlaw
  • 2014 Jason Malone
  • 2015 Luis Blanco
  • 2016 Cody Nance
  • 2017 Ezekiel Mitchell
  • 2018 Andrew Alvidrez
  • 2019 Jess Lockwood
  • 2020 José Vitor Leme
  • 2021 Daylon Swearingen
  • 2022 Daylon Swearingen
  • 2023 Josh Frost
  • 2024 Jean Fernandes Pereira
  • 2025 Lucas Martins Costa
Source:
Note: This tour debuted in 1995 as the Touring Pro Division. In 2001, it was renamed the Challenger Tour. 2009 was the last year in which this tour had a year-end finals event, and in 2010, it was changed back to its original title of the Touring Pro Division.

Velocity Tour Champions

  • 2014 Jason Malone
  • 2015 Gage Gay
  • 2016 Chase Outlaw
  • 2017 Alex Marcilio
  • 2018 Alisson de Souza
  • 2019 José Vitor Leme
  • 2020 Mason Taylor
  • 2021 Adriano Salgado
  • 2022 Clayton Sellars
  • 2023 Josh Frost
  • 2024 Grayson Cole
  • 2025 Marcus Mast
Source:

Velocity Tour Finals Champions

Million Dollar Bull Team Challenge Champions

  • 2019 – Harrison / Swearingin / Berger & Barrett Bucking Stock
  • 2020 – Melton Bull Co.
  • 2021 – Sho-Me Rodeo / Rafter J
  • 2022 – Halpain Bucking Bulls
  • 2023 – Nothin' But Try Ranch / Diggers Bucking Bulls
  • 2024 – G&H Cattle
  • 2025 – Silent 7 / Hilton Bull Co.

Challenger Series Champions

  • 2022 Keyshawn Whitehorse
  • 2023 Alan de Souza
  • 2024 Cody Coverchuk
  • 2025 Gustavo Luíz da Silva

Challenger Series Finals Champions

  • 2022 Sandro Batista
  • 2023 Eli Vastbinder
  • 2024 Claudio Montanha, Jr.
  • 2025 Lauro Nunes Vieira

International Champions

PBR Canada

  • 2006 Scott Schiffner
  • 2007 Tyler Pankewicz
  • 2008 Aaron Roy
  • 2009 Beau Hill
  • 2010 Aaron Roy
  • 2011 Tyler Thomson
  • 2012 Aaron Roy
  • 2013 Zane Lambert
  • 2014 Stetson Lawrence
  • 2015 Tanner Byrne
  • 2016 Ty Pozzobon
  • 2017 Zane Lambert
  • 2018 Cody Coverchuk
  • 2019 Daylon Swearingen
  • 2020 Dakota Buttar
  • 2021 Cody Coverchuk
  • 2022 Nick Tetz
  • 2023 Dakota Buttar
  • 2024 Nick Tetz
  • 2025 Jared Parsonage
Source:

PBR Brazil

  • 2006 Elton José de Souza
  • 2007 João Mauro Kugel
  • 2008 Edmundo Gomes
  • 2009 Thiago Paguioto
  • 2010 Elton Cide
  • 2011 Edevaldo Ferreira
  • 2012 Edevaldo Ferreira
  • 2013 Claudio Crisostomo
  • 2014 Tiago Vitor
  • 2015 Luciano Henrique de Castro
  • 2016 Dener Barbosa
  • 2017 José Vitor Leme
  • 2018 Fernando Henrique Novais
  • 2019 Alan de Souza
  • 2020 – No PBR Brazil events this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.
  • 2021 – Only one PBR Brazil event this year. It was closed to the public due to the continuity of COVID-19 restrictions.
  • 2022 Cássio Dias
  • 2023 Jean Fernandes Pereira
  • 2024 Rogério Venâncio
  • 2025 Gustavo Luiz da Silva
Source:

PBR Australia

  • 2006 Tim Wilson
  • 2007 Ben Jones
  • 2008 Pete Farley
  • 2009 David Kennedy
  • 2010 David Kennedy
  • 2011 Kevin "Jock" Connolly
  • 2012 David Kennedy
  • 2013 Chris Lowe
  • 2014 David Kennedy
  • 2015 Fraser Babbington
  • 2016 Cody Heffernan
  • 2017 Troy Wilkinson
  • 2018 Aaron Kleier
  • 2019 Aaron Kleier
  • 2020 Aaron Kleier
  • 2021 Aaron Kleier
  • 2022 Cody Heffernan
  • 2023 Macaulie Leather
  • 2024 Boston Leather
  • 2025 Kurt Shephard
Source:

PBR Mexico (Defunct)

  • 2006 Mario Galindo
  • 2007 Hugo Pedrero
  • 2008 – No PBR Mexico events this year.
  • 2009 Jason O'Hearn
  • 2010 Adrian Ferreiro
  • 2011 Simao da Silva
  • 2012 Juan Carlos Contreras
  • 2013 Gustavo Pedrero
  • 2014 Gustavo Pedrero
  • 2015 Alejandro Gamboa
  • 2016 Juan Carlos Contreras
  • 2017 Francisco Morales
  • 2018 Francisco García Torres
  • 2019 Francisco García Torres
  • 2020 – No PBR Mexico events this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.
  • 2021 – No PBR Mexico events this year due to continued COVID-19 restrictions.
  • 2022 – No PBR Mexico events for a third year in a row.
  • 2023 – After only one event this year, PBR Mexico officially went out of business.
Source:
Note: All PBR Mexico events in the 2009 season were held in San Antonio, Texas, United States.

World Cup Champions

  • 2007 Team Brazil
  • 2008 Team USA
  • 2009 Team USA
  • 2010 Team Brazil
Source:
Event discontinued after 2010.

Global Cup Champions

  • 2017 Team USA
  • 2018 Team Brazil
  • 2019 Team Brazil
  • 2020 Team USA Eagles
  • 2021 – No Global Cup event this year due to different COVID-19 protocols between the five PBR countries.
  • 2022 Team USA Eagles
Event discontinued after 2022.

Australia Origin Series Champions

  • 2019 Team Queensland
  • 2020 – No Origin Series events this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.
  • 2021 Team Queensland
  • 2022 Team Queensland
  • 2023 Team Queensland
  • 2024 Team Queensland
  • 2025 Team New South Wales

U.S. Team Series Champions

Regular-Season Champions

Regular-Season MVP

Team Series Championship Winners

  • 2022 Nashville Stampede
  • 2023 Texas Rattlers
  • 2024 Austin Gamblers
  • 2025 Carolina Cowboys

Team Series Championship MVP

Team Series Rookie of the Year

  • 2025 Everton Natan da Silva

Other awards

The PBR has some secondary awards, in addition to the World Championship, given out annually, some named after bull riders fatally injured during competition.
The Rookie of the Year award goes to the rookie bull rider who wins the most points of all first-year competitors.
The Stock Contractor of the Year award goes to the stock contractor who has supplied the best bulls to Premier Series events. This award is given based on a vote among the top PBR bull riders.
The Bull of the World Finals award goes to the bull who scores the highest points combining all his outs during the PBR World Finals.
The Lane Frost/Brent Thurman Award is for the highest-scoring single ride at the World Finals. It is named for Lane Frost, the 1987 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association World Champion bull rider who was fatally injured at the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo on July 30, 1989; and Brent Thurman, a rising star in pro bull riding and co-founder of the PBR who was seriously injured at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas on December 11, 1994, and died six days later.
The Glen Keeley Award is for the Canadian bull rider who earns the most points throughout the entire Premier Series season. It is named for Glen Keeley, the 1989 Canadian Professional Rodeo Association champion bull rider who died of injuries sustained at the PBR Bud Light Cup Series' Ty Murray Invitational on March 24, 2000, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The Mason Lowe Award is for the highest-scoring single ride during the regular season of the Premier Series. Mason Lowe was an American bull rider who died of his injuries after being stepped on by a bull on January 15, 2019, during a PBR Velocity Tour event held in conjunction with the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado.
The Team Series Regular-Season MVP is awarded to the individual rider who earned the most points during the regular season of the PBR's U.S. Team Series.
The PBR also has recognition awards in the Heroes and Legends Celebration. Some of these like the Ring of Honor and the Brand of Honor are the equivalent of a Hall of Fame recognition. In 2019 and 2020, the Mason Lowe Award was presented in the arena during the PBR World Finals, but it became a part of the Heroes and Legends Celebration in 2021. However, by 2022, it was now awarded during the opening gala the day before the beginning of the PBR World Finals. From 2011 through 2019, and again in 2021, the Heroes and Legends Celebration took place just before the start of the PBR World Finals. However, as of 2022, said ceremony is no longer a part of the PBR World Finals. Beginning in 2023, it will be held at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in September during the week of Freedom Fest, the annual PBR Team Series event in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Stock Contractor of the Year

  • 1995 – Terry Williams
  • 1996 – Terry Williams
  • 1997 – Terry Williams
  • 1998 – Terry Williams
  • 1999 – Terry Williams
  • 2000 – Herrington Cattle Company
  • 2001 – D&H Cattle Company
  • 2002 – D&H Cattle Company
  • 2003 – D&H Cattle Company
  • 2004 – D&H Cattle Company
  • 2005 – D&H Cattle Company
  • 2006 – Page & Teague Bucking Bulls
  • 2007 – Chad Berger and Larry Ryken
  • 2008 – Chad Berger and Clay Struve
  • 2009 – Chad Berger and Clay Struve
  • 2010 – Jeff Robinson
  • 2011 – Jeff Robinson
  • 2012 – Jeff Robinson
  • 2013 – Jeff Robinson
  • 2014 – Chad Berger and Clay Struve
  • 2015 – Chad Berger and Clay Struve
  • 2016 – Chad Berger and Clay Struve
  • 2017 – Chad Berger and Clay Struve
  • 2018 – Chad Berger and Clay Struve
  • 2019 – Chad Berger and Clay Struve
  • 2020 – Chad Berger and Clay Struve
  • 2021 – Chad Berger and Clay Struve
  • 2022 – Chad Berger, Clay Struve and D&H Cattle Company
  • 2023 – Blake Sharp
  • 2024 – Blake Sharp
  • 2025 – Blake Sharp
Source:

Lane Frost/Brent Thurman Award recipients

  • 1996 Adriano Morães
  • 1997 Troy Dunn
  • 1998 Cody Custer
  • 1999 Chris Shivers
  • 1999 Terry Don West
  • 2000 Ednei Caminhas
  • 2001 Chris Shivers
  • 2002 Cory McFadden
  • 2003 Jody Newberry
  • 2004 Michael Gaffney
  • 2004 Mike Lee
  • 2005 Cody Whitney
  • 2006 Dustin Hall
  • 2006 Adriano Morães
  • 2007 J.B. Mauney
  • 2008 J.B. Mauney
  • 2009 J.B. Mauney
  • 2010 Valdiron de Oliveira
  • 2011 Robson Palermo
  • 2012 Austin Meier
  • 2012 Chris Shivers
  • 2013 J.B. Mauney
  • 2014 J.B. Mauney
  • 2015 J.B. Mauney
  • 2016 Cooper Davis
  • 2017 José Vitor Leme
  • 2018 Marco Eguchi
  • 2019 Rubens Barbosa
  • 2020 José Vitor Leme
  • 2021 José Vitor Leme
  • 2022 Mauricio Moreira
  • 2023 Andrew Alvidrez
  • 2024 John Crimber
  • 2025 Brady Fielder
  • 2025 José Vitor Leme
Source:

Glen Keeley Award recipients

  • 2000 – B.J. Kramps
  • 2001 – B.J. Kramps
  • 2002 – Reuben Geleynse
  • 2003 – Rob Bell
  • 2004 – Rob Bell
  • 2005 – Matt Roy
  • 2006 – Jesse Torkelson
  • 2007 – Scott Schiffner
  • 2008 – Aaron Roy
  • 2009 – Aaron Roy
  • 2010 – Aaron Roy
  • 2011 – Aaron Roy
  • 2012 – Chad Besplug
  • 2013 – Aaron Roy
  • 2014 – Tanner Byrne
  • 2015 – Tanner Byrne
  • 2016 – Tanner Byrne
  • 2017 – Dakota Buttar
  • 2018 – Dakota Buttar
  • 2019 – Dakota Buttar
  • 2020 – Dakota Buttar
  • 2021 – Dakota Buttar
  • 2022 – Griffin Smeltzer
  • 2023 – Nick Tetz
  • 2024 – Jake Gardner
  • 2025 – Nick Tetz
Source:

Mason Lowe Award recipients

U.S. Team Series General Manager of the Year

  • 2022 Tina Battock
  • 2023 Chad Blankenship
  • 2024 Jim Smith
  • 2025 Casey Lane

U.S. Team Series Coach of the Year

High Money Bull of the Regular Season

Awarded to the bull who earned the most money for the bull riders in the regular season. Discontinued after 2013.
  • 1995 – Baby Face
  • 1996 – High Voltage
  • 1997 – Shotgun Red
  • 1998 – Promise Land
  • 1999 – Gusto
  • 2000 – Moody Blues
  • 2001 – Promise Land
  • 2002 – Promise Land
  • 2003 – Maximus
  • 2004 – Bo Howdy
  • 2005 – Mossy Oak Mudslinger
  • 2006 – Chief
  • 2007 – Evil Forces
  • 2008 – Cat Man Do
  • 2009 – Fully Loaded
  • 2010 – Segs The Juice
  • 2011 – Gunpowder & Lead
  • 2012 – Bad Moon
  • 2013 – Prince Albert
Source:

Golden Barrel Awards

The Golden Barrel Award recipients were decided by fans who voted online. The categories were based on moments that occurred during the Premier Series regular season. The Best Celebration award was for the rider who gave the best celebration after completing a successful qualified ride; the Best Winning Ride award was for the rider who gave the best ride of the regular season; the Best Save award was for the bullfighter who put out the best save of a rider from a bull; the 7 Seconds of Agony award was for the rider who gave the best seven-second ride; and the Best Breakthrough Performance award was for the rider who gave the best comeback performance after recently going through some professional setbacks. The final category was added in 2022. 2021 and 2022 were the only years in which these awards were given out.
2021
  • Best Celebration: Ezekiel Mitchell
  • Best Winning Ride: José Vitor Leme
  • Best Save: Cody Webster
  • 7 Seconds of Agony: Keyshawn Whitehorse
2022
  • Best Celebration: Stetson Lawrence
  • Best Winning Ride: João Ricardo Vieira
  • Best Save: Frank Newsom
  • 7 Seconds of Agony: Daylon Swearingen
  • Best Breakthrough Performance: Daylon Swearingen

Team Series Fan Favorite Bull

Awarded to the best performing bull during the regular season of the U.S. Team Series and was decided by fans who voted online. It was only awarded during the first three seasons of the Team Series.
  • 2022 – Moonlight Party
  • 2023 – Utz BesTex Legend
  • 2024 – Cool Whip

Heroes and Legends Celebration

This article presents a list of major champions and honors won by Professional Bull Riders. The Heroes and Legends Celebrations have their own article which lists the Ring of Honor, Sharon Shoulders Award, Jim Shoulders Lifetime Achievement Award, Brand of Honor, and Ty Murray Top Hand Award.