FORT WORTH, Texas – It all comes down to this.

Well, technically Thursday’s action inside Cowtown Coliseum merely represents the first of three 2025 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast stages, with the ultimate endgame looming in the distance via the Championship at AT&T Stadium May 17-18.

But, YES, the most anticipated, drama-packed showcase in Western sports has once again arrived, with the circuit’s presence very much already on display throughout the Fort Worth Stockyards.

Following a brutally physical yet extremely entertaining 23 regular season Unleash The Beast showcases, the Top 40-ranked bull riders in the world officially punched their tickets to the end-all, be-all courtesy of their season-long efforts.

And with the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals solidifying the final five men preparing to suit up during the opening four rounds of competition May 8-11, we’ve got 45 cowboys set to give their all.

RELATED: Kasel calm, cool and collected as he chases first world title at 2025 PBR World Finals

However when the action inside Jerry World comes to a close on Championship Sunday, only one man will be crowned the 2025 PBR World Champion.

That conversation starts and ends with a pair of Top 2-ranked riders in No. 1 Dalton Kasel and No. 2 Brady Fielder, who are 483 and 357 UTB points ahead of No. 3 John Crimber, respectively.

2025 PBR Unleash The Beast Standings:
1. Dalton Kasel (1258 points)
2. Brady Fielder (1132 points)
3. John Crimber (775 points)
4. Sage Steele Kimzey (768.25 points)
5. Luciano De Castro (691.83 points)
6. Paulo Eduardo Rossetto (690.25 points)
7. Cort McFadden (678.08 points)
8. Keyshawn Whitehorse (632 points)
9. Andrew Alvidrez (600.75 points)
10. Kaique Pacheco (597 points)

Of course, with a maximum of 556 UTB points available to any one rider who’s able to sweep all four rounds of competition en route to claiming the aggregate and recording four 90s, there is plenty of room for the established standings to endure some shake-up.

And while the likelihood of that run isn’t very strong, that’s exactly what fans are coming down south for, right?

The best bull riders on the planet going head-to-head with the rankest animal athletes the industry has to offer – All for a shot at $3.26 million in prizes set to be awarded throughout what is set to become the highest-paying spectacle in Western sports history!

RELATED: Unleash The Beast Game Notes: 2025 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast – Eliminations

Throughout Eliminations, more than $690,000 will be paid out, with each round winner earning $35,000 and the winner of the four-day aggregate earning $150,000.

And if the glory or cash aren't motivating enough, the pack collectively understands Round 2's matchups will be decided via bull draft, meaning the better they ride Thursday, the better pick and bull they'll have when Friday's second round arrives.

Once the opening four rounds of Eliminations have concluded, the Top 15-ranked cowboys in the Unleash The Beast standings will automatically advance to the Championship stage.

Joining the pack to create 20 of the 25 riders set to compete inside AT&T Stadium May 17-18 will be the Top 5 cowboys within the Eliminations aggregate when the dust settles Sunday, May 11.

The last five spots up for grabs will be available via the middle Ride For Redemption stage, with two nights and four rounds inside Cowtown Coliseum May 14-15 separating the premier series pack from identifying its final Championship contenders.

With the healthiest group of guys the tour has seen in quite some time, each of the world’s Top 40 men are indeed set to give it a go Thursday night – Which is far from where the tour was it in regard to personnel back in 2024, with plenty of bumps and bruises on the injury report.

Welcoming back Kansas City Outlaws standout Sandro Batista to the fold should only increase the fireworks display, as the Brazilian has been known to throw down some rank rides on the sport’s biggest stages.

Having last competed within premier series competition exactly two months ago during UTB’s stop in Little Rock, Arkansas, the No. 21-ranked man should be well-rested and thriving, needing 54 points to overtake No. 15 Eduardo Aparecido for an automatic berth to the home of the Dallas Cowboys.

Just one spot back from Aparecido in the No. 16 spot lurks the 2025 PBR Rookie of the Year frontrunner in Anderson de Oliveira, who’s set to compete in his first UTB showcase in a month.

No. 40 Ethan Winckler has much more ground to make up than Oliveira should he want to avoid the approaching Ride For Redemption sessions. But with Eliminations serving as his first showcase aboard top-tier bulls in a month just the same, he’ll need to shake off some rust during his World Finals debut.

Despite doctoring out of the top tour’s regular season finale in Tacoma, Washington, No. 6 Paulo Eduardo Rossetto rounds out riders returning to the fold.

And after seeing him win last weekend’s Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals event title, we have a feeling he’s bringing some sincere momentum into Cowtown Coliseum, very much making him someone to keep an eye on. Set to dance with Washita Lightning Thursday evening, we’re putting a star next to the Brazilian’s opening round matchup.

Lineups and draw are in for the first of four 2025 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast – Eliminations rounds, so we’re taking a closer look at Thursday night’s matchups, rematches and everything you need to know ahead of the weekend’s opening slate!

With the premier series primed to invade Fort Worth, Texas, May 8-11, we’re breaking down starting lineups for competition inside Cowtown Coliseum (With coverage set to begin at 7:45 p.m. CT via PBR’s YouTube channel, the PBR App and RidePass).

ELIMINATIONS DAY 1 STARTING LINEUPS
Afonso Quintino vs. The Intimidator
Jean Fernandes Pereira vs. Peanut
Marcus Mast vs. Mike Honcho
Ashton Sahli vs. Yahoo
Bob Mitchell vs. Greasy Bend
Ethan Winckler vs. Fast Flow
Felipe Furlan vs. Blown Away
Kaiden Loud vs. Woody
*Thiago Salgado vs. Tchoupitoulas
Vinicius Pinheiro Correa vs. Night Agent
*Dawson Branton vs. Workin’ Man
Mason Taylor vs. Dirty Dave
Boudreaux Campbell vs. Shot in the Dark
Leandro Zampollo vs. Vindicated
Daniel Keeping vs. Buck Nasty
Joao Ricardo Vieira vs. Slick Rick
Adriano Salgado vs. Ridin’ Dirty
Koltin Hevalow vs. What’s Poppin
Julio Cesar Marques vs. Gas Money
Daylon Swearingen vs. Interstate Daydream
Derek Kolbaba vs. Freedom Fighter
Bruno Carvalho vs. Lights Out
Hudson Bolton vs. July
Elizmar Jeremias vs. Blonde Bomber
Dener Barbosa vs. Plowboy
Claudio Montanha Jr. vs. Big Mac
Anderson de Oliveira vs. Tigger
*Sandro Batista vs. Constant Payne
Alan de Souza vs. Short Fire
Jose Vitor Leme vs. Dana White’s Playmate
Eduardo Aparecido vs. Rank Hank
Austin Richardson vs. Sam’s Shot
Lucas Divino vs. Slingin’ In
Leonardo Castro vs. King Tut
Clay Guiton vs. Rock ‘n Roll
Kaique Pacheco vs. Scrappy
Andrew Alvidrez vs. All Hat No Rattle
Keyshawn Whitehorse vs. Mr. Demon
Cort McFadden vs. Twisted Magic
Paulo Eduardo Rossetto vs. Washita Lightning
Luciano De Castro vs. Electric Kitty
Sage Steele Kimzey vs. Big Lean
John Crimber vs. Spunky Energy
*Brady Fielder vs. Lap Dancer
Dalton Kasel vs. Good Riddance
*Denotes Rematch

REMATCHES
Brady Fielder vs. Lap Dancer (88.25 points in Houston, Texas)
Dawson Branton vs. Workin’ Man (7.11 seconds in Greensboro, North Carolina)
Sandro Batista vs. Constant Payne (87.25 points in Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
Thiago Salgado vs. Tchoupitoulas (3.27 seconds in Billings, Montana)

FOLLOW ALONG
This weekend’s 2025 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast – Eliminations in Fort Worth, Texas, is set to begin Thursday, May 8 at 7:45 p.m. CT as the world’s most talented bull riders prepare to duke it out inside Cowtown Coliseum during the first of four action-packed showcases!

The action will continue Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10 at 7:45 p.m. CT with the second and third rounds, respectively, before the fourth and final slate dawns Sunday, May 11 at 1:45 p.m. CT.

RELATED: Where to Watch: PBR World Finals – Eliminations

All four rounds of action in Fort Worth will be available LIVE and FREE via Ride Pass, PBR’s YouTube channel, PBR’s X account, PBR’s mobile app, PBR’s app on connected TVs, including Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, and Google TV, as well as on your favorite web browser at watch.pbr.com.

The stream for Eliminations begins Thursday, May 8 at 7:45 p.m. PT. New this year, The Cowboy Channel will also stream the opening four rounds of action, with coverage beginning at 8 p.m. CT.

Click here for more tune-in information.

Fans can keep an eye on PBR.com and @PBR social media channels for the latest news, scores, wrecks and more!

Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media