Stetson Wright Set for Huge NFR Return With a Familiar First-Round Matchup

The draw for Round 1 of the 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo has dropped and eyes quickly landed on one name and one bull, it’s Stetson Wright vs. Big Shasta.

After missing last year’s NFR due to injury, Stetson is back in Las Vegas with gold buckles to take back. To start out his week in the bull riding, he drew Big Shasta, the very bull he just rode weeks ago at the Wilderness Circuit Finals with a 90-point ride in the championship round.

A bull he has history with, one he has beaten is now the bull standing between him and launching his comeback finals with big momentum. Big Shasta does not make for an easy night for Wright, but it gives him the perfect opportunity to capitalize from the start. The cowboys that have covered him so far have been no less than 85 points, including Stetson.

Big Shasta will sell in the Benny Binion Bucking Stock Sale before making his NFR debut. Stetson was the last one to crawl on the powerful bull, and will be the next to do so on the opening night inside the Thomas and Mack.

Other Round 1 Matchups Worth Watching

Three-time World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider Zeke Thurston has drawn Frontier Medicine of Frontier Rodeo. This is a horse making his first appearance in the Thomas & Mack.

Don’t let the NFR debut fool anyone though because this guy shines in smaller indoor setups.Frontier Medicine helped Rusty Wright win the Montgomery, Alabama rodeo at the beginning of the year with an 87.5-point ride Also this year Skinny Parsons was 85.75 on him to earn the American Rodeo’s Central Regional Saddle Bronc title.

Zeke is the perfect guy to match this horse's explosive style.

The 2024 World Champion and 2025 season leader, Ryder Wright, drew Monster, the Corey & Lange standout named the Columbia River Circuit Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year.

Veteran NFR bareback rider Tilden Hooper will kick things off with MLW’s Irish Eyes, a horse known for excellence on the big stages. Kaycee Field was 90 points on this same horse back at the 2022 Pendleton Round-Up to win the title. Tilden himself matched up with Irish Eyes in Round 10 of the NFR that same year and was marked 85.5

Round 1 is always extra exciting at the Wrangler National Finals. 2025 is set to be a big year, and these matchups are the perfect way to kick it off in the roughstock events.

Full Round 1 Bareback Draw

Tilden Hooper – MLW’s Irish Eyes

Mason Clements – Miss Delta

Wacey Schalla – Wild Child

Waylon Bourgeois – Rubber Match

Jayco Roper – OLS Tubs Side Show

Cooper Cooke – Ramblin Man

Jacek Frost – Native Lights

Dean Thompson – Pretty Woman

Garrett Shadbolt – Renovo Shady Nights

Kade Sonnier – Boot Barn’s Night Delta

Cole Franks – Western Hauler’s Cosmic Stardust

Jess Pope – Land Of Fancy

Bradlee Miller – Sweet Tequila

Sam Petersen – Scarlett Cat

Rocker Steiner – Sozo

Full Round 1 Saddle Bronc Draw

Lefty Holman — Vitalix Ricky Bobby

Ben Andersen — Lil Brother

Q Taylor — Vitalix Guns Blazing

Stetson Wright — Renegade

Weston Patterson — Vitalix Womanizer

Brody Cress — Ed Bishop

Statler Wright — Big Country

Sage Newman — Hell Boy

Zac Dallas — Freckles

Brody Wells — Talkin Smack

Kade Bruno — Gone Fishing

Zeke Thurston — Frontier Medicine

Dawson Hay — Flying Carma

Damian Brennan — No Tail Dell

Ryder Wright — Monster

Full Round 1 Bull Riding Draw

Luke Mackey – Vitalix Anthrax

Jesse Petri – Buck Nasty

Rawley Johnson – Evil Intentions

Mason Moody – Koulees Pet

Bryce Jensen – Hunter

Jordan Spears – One Chance

Qynn Andersen – amasestays.com Insurrection

J.R. Stratford – GR Trailers Wicked Sensation

Hayes Weight – Ugly This

Hudson Bolton – Western Hauler’s Caesar

TJ Gray – Optiwize’s Buckin Hippie

Tristen Hutchings – Best Chance

Ky Hamilton – Black Betty

Stetson Wright – Big Shasta

Wacey Schalla – Heartbreaker