Wrangler National Finals Rodeo: Night Nine Recap

Last night was the ninth night of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, presented by Teton Ridge. Here are the standings after round nine.

Night Nine felt different the moment I walked in. Being on site puts everything into perspective: the noise is louder, the moments are quicker, and the emotion is right in front of you instead of filtered through a screen. Watching from the stands and then getting the chance to speak with the athletes in between only reinforced how much this week means to them. You could see their focus and drive, the nerves, and the pride that comes with simply being here.

Inside the arena, the adrenaline was constant. Every ride and every run carried weight, and you could feel the crowd lean in together when the gates opened. There’s nothing manufactured about it; the reactions are real, the stakes are real, and the emotion is heavy in the best way. Night Nine wasn’t just impressive to watch; it was the kind of night that reminds you why the NFR hits different when you’re there in person.

Bareback Riding

Bareback riding is one of those events that makes you laugh first and then immediately question how tough these athletes really are, because none of this should be possible. Watching it in person, you realize just how fast it all happens. Eight seconds doesn’t sound long until you’re watching someone get launched into the air, land back in rhythm, and somehow make it look intentional. The horses show up with a full agenda, and the riders respond like, “That’s fine, I’ll adjust mid-flight.”

There’s also a certain honesty to bareback riding, you either hang on or you don’t, and there’s no hiding either way. One second the crowd is holding its breath, the next it’s erupting, and everyone’s laughing because the dismount looked less like a plan and more like a suggestion. It’s gritty without trying to be, impressive without needing hype, and endlessly entertaining, especially when the cowboy stands up afterward, tips his hat, and pretends that ride went exactly as planned.

Steer Wrestling

Steer wrestling is one of those events that sounds simple until you see it up close: ride fast, jump off, grab a steer, stop it. Easy, right? Watching it in person quickly clears that up. These guys launch off their horses at full speed with the confidence of someone who’s done this a thousand times and the self-preservation instincts of someone who has absolutely not overthought it. The steer usually has other plans, which makes the whole thing feel like a very short but intense negotiation.

What makes it so entertaining is how fast it’s over. Blink and you’ll miss it – unless the steer decides to add a little drama, in which case everyone gets a front-row seat to a dirt-filled wrestling match. There’s something oddly impressive about watching a cowboy hop up afterward, dust himself off, and jog back like he didn’t just tackle an animal that significantly outweighs him.

Team Roping

Team roping hits different when you’re standing there watching it happen live. From the nod to the snap of the ropes, everything moves fast, but somehow slow enough that you can feel the pressure building between the header and heeler. You can see the silent communication, the timing, and that split second where both of them are thinking the exact same thing… or realizing they aren’t. It’s teamwork at its finest, with zero room for mixed signals.

When it goes right, it’s poetry. When it doesn’t, it’s still entertaining, just with a little more dirt and a few extra glances exchanged between partners that say, “We’ll talk about that later.” Watching it on site, you hear the ropes hit, feel the crowd react instantly, and appreciate just how dialed these teams have to be. It’s precision, trust, and a whole lot of skill, performed by people who make it look way easier than it has any right to be.

Saddle Bronc Riding

Saddle bronc riding is one of those events that demands your full attention the second the chute opens, and being on site, there’s no escaping it. You can hear the leather creak, feel the ground shake, and watch that first jump set the tone for the entire ride. The horses come out strong, expressive, and very clear about their opinions, while the riders counter with timing and style that only looks relaxed if you don’t think too hard about what’s actually happening.

What truly set the night apart, though, was watching the Wright family make it a moment to remember. Seeing Stetson, Statler, and Ryder take 1st, 2nd, and 3rd was something special, and being there to witness it made it even better. You could feel how much fun that had to be for them: sharing the arena, the results, and the celebration all in the same night. It was one of those rare rodeo moments where competition and family collided in the best possible way.

Tie-Down Roping

Tie-down roping is one of those events that really shows itself when you’re watching it live. From the snap of the barrier to the sprint down the arena, everything happens fast, but you can still feel the pressure. You see the focus before the run, the urgency in jumping off to tie the calf, and the precision it takes to make every movement count. It’s quiet intensity, broken only by the sound of hooves, rope, and the crowd reacting in real time.

What stands out in person is how unforgiving the event is. There’s no extra room, no margin for error, and no way to rush what has to be clean. When it all comes together, it’s smooth and impressive; when it doesn’t, you can feel the frustration immediately. Watching tie-down roping on site gives you a whole new respect for how much timing, patience, and mental toughness it takes to get it right, especially this deep into the NFR.

Barrel Racing

Barrel racing is officially the event that cost me my voice, and I regret absolutely nothing. Watching it live already gets your heart racing, but when Carlee Otero ran a 13.20, the arena absolutely erupted. I don’t think anyone stayed in their seat, and I know for a fact I was yelling like I personally had a horse in the alley. Seeing that run in real time was electric, the kind of moment that makes you forget to breathe until it’s already over.

A 13.20 is the fastest time of the 2025 Wrangler NFR, and knowing how incredibly close it is to Hailey Kinsel’s world record of 13.1 made it even more unreal. You could feel the excitement ripple through the crowd as the clock stopped, that split second of disbelief followed by pure celebration. It was one of those runs people will be talking about long after Vegas, and being there to witness it firsthand, hoarse voice and all, was absolutely worth it.

Bull Riding

Bull riding on Night Nine was nothing short of electric. Being on site, you feel every thud of hooves, every twist of a bull, and every heartbeat of the rider in those eight seconds that feel like an eternity. The adrenaline in the arena is unmatched, and watching these athletes face off against bulls that are clearly auditioning for a stunt show is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Every ride is a mix of skill, courage, and just a touch of defiance, because why would anyone willingly throw themselves onto a 1,800-pound animal that’s determined to launch them sky-high?

The atmosphere in the Thomas & Mack made every second even more intense. The crowd reacts instantly, you can hear the collective gasp, and the tension is so thick you could cut it with a rope. Night Nine’s bull riding reminded me why being there in person is irreplaceable, you see the grit, the focus, and the sheer athleticism in a way that makes it impossible not to be fully invested, cheering until your voice is gone.

We’re headed into night ten! Who’s going to win it all?