OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The first night of Wildcatter Days presented by zone Premium Nicotine Pouches was electric as the 2026 PBR Teams standings shook up once again with the Arizona Ridge Riders (2-1) prevailing on top at Paycom Center Friday night.
Arizona stole the show as they dominated the 2024 PBR Teams Champion Austin Gamblers (1-2) three rides to one in a 261.7-87.35 victory Friday night. Three-time PBR World Champion Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil) put Austin ahead in the second frame – ultimately the squad’s lone score. Arizona’s Eduardo Aparecido (Gouvelandia, Brazil) bested Sagebrush in the second frame as well for 85.65 points before Everton Natan da Silva (Viradouro, Brazil) lasted the full eight on Side Hustle for 87.55 points in the team’s next ride. In the Ridge Riders’ fourth frame, Murilo Henrique de Oliveira (Pereira Barreto, Brazil) clinched the victory with 88.5 points on Lever Action.
Defending Teams Champion Carolina Cowboys (2-1) only needed one ride to shut out the Texas Rattlers (2-1), taking down the league’s last undefeated team. Thiago Salgado (Naviraí, Brazil), new to Carolina from the Florida Freedom, was bucked off Purple Rain in the first out of the game, but took advantage of his re-ride opportunity, besting Dirty Honey for 89.05 points. The Cowboys moved to No. 6 in the standings through three games.
The Nashville Stampede (2-1) spoiled the opening night of the Oklahoma Wildcatters’ (1-2) homestand and Head Coach Greg Rhodes’ home debut with a 176.9-91.2 walk-off performance. Rogério Venâncio (Paranaita, Brazil) put Nashville on the board with an 88.85-point ride on CID’s Kid. The Wildcatters bounced back as Kaiden Loud (Kaufman, Texas) went for 91.2 points on Cookie – the second-best score of his premier series career and best within Teams action. On a re-ride attempt, Riquelmi Silva (Bom Jesus do Araguaia, Brazil) delivered the final blow with an 88.05-point ride on Smooth Violation to lift Nashville on top.
After the Kansas City Outlaws went ahead of the Florida Freedom in the bottom of the fifth when Eric Henrique Domingos (Pérola, Brazil) recorded a big 89.15-point ride on Milestone, Ethan Winckler (Winnie, Texas) knocked down a career-best 90.45-point ride on Lights Out on a re-ride opportunity on the game’s last out to lift the Freedom (2-1) over the Outlaws (1-2) 179.4-89.15. Winckler’s clutch ride added to the 88.95-point outing by Alex Cerqueira(Iguatemi, Brazil) on Show Me The Money in the second.
In the closest game of the night, the Missouri Thunder (2-1) opened Wildcatter Days by edging the New York Mavericks (0-3) 180.95-178.15. Paulo Eduardo Rossetto (Colorado, Brazil) posted 91 points against Tigger in the very first ride of the night to electrify the crowd. Later, in the third frame, the Thunder’s Felipe Furlan (Sales Oliveira, Brazil) added 89.95 additional points on Getcha Some. João Henrique Lucas (Bastos, Brazil) earned an 88.85-point ride on Woodyfor New York while his teammate Mauricio Gulla Moreira (Gavião Peixoto, Brazil) tallied 89.3 points on Desert Wind.
The second day of Wildcatter Days presented by zone Premium Nicotine Pouches at Paycom Center resumes Saturday, Aug. 1 at 6:45 p.m. CT. Saturday’s first three games can be caught LIVE on The CW while the latter two, the “Games of the Week,” will air at 11 a.m. CT on CBS Sunday morning.
|
Rank
|
Team
|
Record
|
Points
|
|
1.
|
Arizona Ridge Riders
|
2-1
|
787.65
|
|
2.
|
Florida Freedom
|
2-1
|
713.80
|
|
3.
|
Missouri Thunder
|
2-1
|
533.20
|
|
4.
|
Texas Rattlers
|
2-1
|
531.00
|
|
5.
|
Nashville Stampede
|
2-1
|
529.05
|
|
6.
|
Carolina Cowboys
|
2-1
|
265.60
|
|
7.
|
Austin Gamblers
|
1-2
|
608.40
|
|
8.
|
Kansas City Outlaws
|
1-2
|
441.65
|
|
9.
|
Oklahoma Wildcatters
|
1-2
|
440.80
|
|
10.
|
New York Mavericks
|
0-3
|
526.05
|
Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media