In just a few days, an elite group of rodeo athletes will see a lifetime of dedication and hard work come to fruition under the bright lights of Las Vegas. Some veterans, some rookies—but all are ready to lay everything on the line in pursuit of their gold buckle dreams.
It’s the 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR). Celebrating its 40th year in Las Vegas and 66th edition overall, this year’s event returns to the Thomas & Mack Center with a record $17.5 million purse, making it the most prosperous and prestigious stage in the sport of rodeo.
It’s a stage athletes have dreamed of crossing for the majority of their lives, and the opportunity to write the next chapter of Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) history.
Featuring the top 15 athletes in each discipline, the storylines are rich and the stakes are high—and we haven’t even arrived in Sin City yet.
One of the marquee storylines of the 2025 NFR is the All-Around Cowboy race. Both contenders, Stetson Wright and Wacey Schalla, qualified in two disciplines—Wright in bull riding and saddle bronc riding, and Schalla in bull riding and bareback riding. With less than $33,000 separating the two, the all-around race is poised to be one of the most thrilling in recent history, keeping fans and athletes alike on the edge of their seats as two of the sport’s most dynamic cowboys battle for the coveted title.
Looking to the bareback riding, Rocker Steiner leads the world standings by nearly $82,000, the largest margin of any event entering the 2025 NFR. Steiner shattered the PRCA regular-season earnings record with $303,547, becoming the first bareback rider to surpass $300,000 ahead of the Finals.
He’ll be joined by an exciting mix of talent, including NFR rookie Sam Peterson, who enters his first Finals in the No. 2 position. Fellow rookies Jacek Frost and Waylon Bourgeois will make their NFR debuts alongside world champion Jess Pope, the only past titlist in the 2025 bareback field.
In saddle bronc riding, the world title race is shaping up to be one of the tightest of the season, with less than $50,000 separating the top four competitors. Headlining the event is three-time world champion and 10-time NFR qualifier Ryder Wright, who enters with $293,994 as he chases his fourth world title.
Canadian athletes have also made their presence known in 2025, with Dawson Hay, Zeke Thurston, Q Taylor and Ben Andersen making up nearly one-third of the bronc riding field, one of the largest Canadian contingents in recent NFR history.
The bull riding race promises to be equally electric. Twenty-year-old phenom Wacey Schalla will enter the NFR with a narrow $2,422 lead over eight-time world champion Stetson Wright. With both the bull riding and all-around titles on the line, this matchup is set to deliver one of the most intense showdowns in PRCA history.
World champion Ky Hamilton is also well within range, sitting less than $35,000 out of the lead after closing the regular season with a remarkable $109,586 in the final month. The Australian cowboy will arrive in Las Vegas with momentum and confidence, looking to capture his second world title.
On the timed-event side, steer wrestler Will Lummus will begin the Finals with less than $33,000 separating him from fellow veteran Jesse Brown. Between them, the two cowboys have 14 NFR qualifications, but neither has captured a world title—adding extra thrills to this year’s veteran race.
Reigning world champion J.D. Struxness will also return to defend his title as he enters his seventh NFR.
Team roping will bring its own slate of storylines. After winning the Cinch Governor’s Cup during the final weekend of the regular season, two-time World Champion Header Kaleb Driggers leads the heading standings as he prepares for his 13th NFR. He will once again rope alongside two-time world champion heeler Junior Nogueira, who also leads the heeling race.
This year’s NFR will also feature several new pairings resulting from split qualifications. Notable new teams include Kolton Schmidt and Jonathan Torres, Clay Smith and Coleby Payne, and Dustin Egusquiza and Levi Lord.
In tie-down roping, reigning world champion Riley Webb has put some distance between himself and world champion Shad Mayfield after a season-long back-and-forth. With less than $49,000 between them, the world title will ultimately be decided inside the Thomas & Mack.
The tie-down field is stacked with experience—only Tom Crouse and Kyle Lucas will make their NFR debuts—setting the stage for a high-pressure, high-intensity showdown.
Turning to the WPRA, reigning world champion Kassie Mowry will look to defend her barrel racing title. However, two-time world champion Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi sits less than $9,000 behind her, positioning the race as one of the tightest on the women’s side.
This year will also feature an impressive NFR rookie class, with six first-time qualifiers—Anita Ellis, Tayla Moeykens, Tricia Aldridge, Hayle Gibson-Stillwell, Katelyn Lide-Scott and Halyn Lide—marking the largest group of rookies in any event at the 2025 NFR. Ellis leads the group after a breakout season highlighted by her Calgary Stampede victory.
A season marked by dedication, highs, heartbreak, and grit will come down to 10 unforgettable days inside the Thomas & Mack Center. When the action kicks off on Dec. 4, fans and athletes alike will eagerly anticipate the most exciting week of the year in professional rodeo.
All action, storylines and behind-the-scenes coverage can be viewed through The Cowboy Channel and Cowboy Channel+’s extensive on-air and digital platforms.