After-Action Report From The Professional Bull Riders World Finals
Unleash the Beast descended on AT&T Stadium, home to the Dallas Cowboys, for an adrenaline-fueled three days of Professional Bull Riders World Finals. The event was more star-studded than ever this year, as a host of celebrities featured in Hook & Barrel Magazine were on the scene, the most notable of which was Hook & Barrel cover man Kid Rock, who hosted and performed at the first-ever Kid Rock Rock N Rodeo, kicking off the first night of the three-day epic event.
A Kid Rockin’ Ride On The General Lee
Cruising into the stadium in the back of a Cybertruck outfitted like the General Lee (driven by The Dukes of Hazzard’s John Schneider with Jelly Roll riding shotgun) Kid Rock launched into his song “Cowboy,” and was joined by Jelly Roll for a rendition of “Born Free” while cowgirls in red, white and blue ran circles on horseback around the arena.
Seven rodeo events featuring top-notch competitors followed: Barrel Racing, Bareback Riding, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, Saddle Bronc Riding, Breakaway Roping, and Tie-Down Roping, followed by a blowout epic-rock close of the show featuring the man of the hour himself.
When Kid Rock appeared on Hook & Barrel’s Nov./Dec. 2021 cover, the accompanying story showed readers that Kid is still, despite having been famous for decades now, a pretty regular guy who likes to rise before the sun and enjoys hunting and fishing. At age 50, he told Hook & Barrel, “I feel like I’m at my peak, and I don’t think it’s gonna keep going up from here. I’m talking about physically, whether it’s my voice, my body—everything. It’s humbling, but I’ve got to look at all that through some real clear lenses with the understanding that I can’t do it at this level forever. And I don’t want to go out and do it at a lesser level.” At 53 years old at the 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium, nothing about Kid Rock’s show was at a lesser level.
Photo by Ashley Hargrove
Other Celebs Unleashing The PBR Beast
The PBR’s Unleash the Beast features the world’s Top 40 bull riders going head-to-head against the fiercest —and most famous—bucking bulls. Forty of the world’s top riders competed in the long rounds, and the top 12 moved on to the Championship Round, where Brazil’s Cassio Dias was crowned 2024 PBR World Champion and Rookie of the Year, making the 22-year-old the second rider ever to achieve both coveted honors in a single season.
The most obvious of Hook & Barrel’s celebrities seen at Unleash the Beast was world-class bronc and bull rider Dale Brisby, who has embarked on a comedy career and recently launched a clothing line. Other Hook & Barrel alum spotted at the event were “The Catfish Girl” Hannah Barron, veteran advocate and New York Times bestselling author Mat Best, MMA fighter Cowboy Cerrone, Gas Monkey Garage’s Richard Rawlings, and comedian Larry the Cable Guy.
More Extreme Action To Come
Hook & Barrel Magazine was thrilled to witness the incredible talent and energy of the competitors, both human and bovine, and the anticipation is high for future opportunities to continue supporting and celebrating the best of the best in this extreme sport.