Watch: Rodeo Powerhouse Thwarts 2002 Champion’s Comeback Bid, Denying First Points in 2024 Season

The Unleash the Beast series is back in full force for its 2024 season. The 23 regular season events marked its beginning, the past month, setting on a quest to find the best of the bull riding world. Since its launching event in early November, the showdown reached Johnstown, Pennsylvania for its third leg. And as the rodeo arrived, it brought along the spectacle of the bull riding turns and thrills.

On the 9th of December, the bull-riding realm welcomed the next step of the awaited Unleash the Beast. As the athletes stepped ahead to gain their points to cement their standings, it was a glorious run for some. But for 19 other riders on the list, the evening called for an upset, and more so for the 2002 World Champion who remains persistent.

Rodeo delivers disappointment for its once-star

Ednei Caminhas, the 2002 World Champion was one among the 40 bull riders to appear for a contest on Saturday night. However, the 48-year-old did not own a kinder fate for the evening as he went without a qualified ride. Game Day, the PBR bull holding an average score of 42.3958, was one of the rides delivering an upset at a buck-off time of 3.57. “Game Day said not today to the 2002 World Champ,” PBR wrote sharing the moment.

Ednei Caminhas went unqualified for all four rounds while Cody Jesus took home the event win with 90.75 and 86.25 on board. Though the night may not have been unveiled to the champion’s expectations, he has held quite a career throughout.

Caminhas’ persistence in bull riding

It was in 2000 that Ednei Caminhas first entered the PBR World Finals qualifiers. Since then he made it to the World Finals 10 times, and held a Championship title. However, in 2009, after his final qualification, he announced his retirement only to make a come back in 2022. “This one, when they invite me to go get my new jacket, my heart started pounding,” Caminhas said. 

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“Wow, I’m back. What’s going on? And my emotions felt like 2002,” he stated after his return to the World Finals. “The last one was in 2009, and it’s my last PBR Finals, my last PBR,” Caminhas said. “And then God brought me back, and I’m very excited. Step by step,” 14 years later, he still continues his rodeo journey.

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