2025 World Champion Stetson Wright

By Patrick Everson

This is how Stetson Wright hoped to return to Las Vegas.

In 2023, Wright had to exit the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo after just two rounds. A serious groin injury finally became too much to ride one more saddle bronc or bull.

Fortunately for Wright, he’d built up such a lead that he still earned a fifth straight all-around world championship that year. But it’s not the way he wanted to finish it off.

Wright had to sit out the entire 2024 season, between surgery and recovery time. But he came back strong in 2025, again qualifying for the NFR in both saddle broncs and bulls.

Then Wright stormed through the past 10 days, picking up right where he left off by winning the all-around and bull riding world championships. He’s now a six-time all-around world champion, three-time bull riding world champ and has 10 gold buckles to his credit overall.

“The comeback was amazing. I loved every part of it. It made this even sweeter,” Stetson said. “Two buckles later, we’re a 10-time world champion.”

Wright wrapped up the week by splitting first with brother Ryder Wright in the 10^th go-round of saddle broncs.

For the week, Wright won four saddle bronc go-rounds and three bull riding go-rounds, while amassing $425,417 over the past 10 days. That put his season-long earnings at a record $817,088, outdueling Wacey Schalla for the prestigious all-around gold buckle.

In bull riding, Wright got bucked off Saturday night. But he still pocketed $196,297 in NFR winnings for a season total of $546,472. T.J. Gray, who won the bull riding average with 610.5 points on seven rides, put some pressure on Wright while finishing second in the world standings at $513,810.

“I appreciate all the fans. I know all the doctors told me I was done. But the fans had faith in me,” Wright said.

Wright also finished third in the world saddle bronc race – behind both his brothers, new world champion Statler Wright and second-place Ryder Wright. That made the past 10 days even sweeter for Stetson, to see his brothers have so much success.

“I’ll never forget this week, for sure.”