All-Around Champion Stetson Wright Shines Brightest During Challenge of 2023 NFR

Writer Brian Hurlburt takes us into the minds and hearts of the PRCA World Champions who clinched titles during the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo®

It would have been easy for Stetson Wright to pack up his things and ride out of town after suffering an NFR-ending hamstring injury during round 2 in 2023. After all, Wright came into the Wrangler NFR in 2023 leading the world standings for Bull Riding, Saddle Bronc and the All-Around. 

A season-long quest to become the only cowboy in history to win all three titles during the same rodeo was well within his reach.

And then suddenly it wasn’t.

But Wright quickly realized that there is much more to the NFR than just those eight seconds on the dirt each night.

“Last year was a big, humbling moment in my career, for sure,” Wright said in June 2024 during the annual NFR media photo and video shoot in Las Vegas. “I was riding high coming into the NFR, but it all quickly ended in round two. As badly as I wanted to go into a deep dark depression over it, I thought back on my successful year and career, and I still had to be happy and thankful.

“It was also very important for me to stay in Las Vegas to support my sponsors, because they are a big deal to me and they have always taken care of me. But on top of that, I remember when I was a little kid going to the NFR, my whole thing wasn’t to just watch the rodeo, it was to meet the cowboys. Last year, I didn’t know how many kids had waited months or years to finally meet me, so there was never a moment that I thought about going home. As difficult as it was not riding, meeting and spending time with the fans helped me get through it. It was a special week even without competing the full 10 nights.”

Wright still managed to win the 2023 All-Around title, which was his 8^th overall gold buckle. He has won two of the three Bull Riding, Saddle Bronc or All-Around titles in the same year three times, but never all three in the same year.

Now his focus during 2024 leading up to the NFR is getting healthy and chasing that dream. At the time of our discussion, Wright said he was just a few weeks away from returning to rodeo.

“I rehabbed like I was supposed to, and the first six weeks they told me to stay completely off of it, so I was in bed going crazy,” Wright said. “They told me before surgery that I would go into a depression, which I didn’t. My life is way too good to worry about that kind of stuff. After six weeks, they said I could get back on it and start rehabbing and I did just that. Just putting weight on my leg again was super awesome. As I got further down the road to where I was able to run and get around was big. Then the power and explosion that was gone from my leg started to come back and I started to get excited. Now, I’m as hungry as ever.”

Throughout the entire process, Wright envisioned what it would be like to get back on that first horse or bull.

“It’s been running through my mind constantly,” Wright said. “I hope to draw the best bull, the best bronc, and feel that fire from the crowd. I’ve always loved rodeo and never wanted to do anything else, but to have it taken from me at the Super Bowl of Rodeo, it lit an even bigger fire under me.”

Editor’s note – Also near the time of our interview, the Wright family was dealing with the devastating tragedy and death of 3-year old Levi Wright, the son of Spencer and Kallie Wright, Stetson’s aunt and uncle. Out of compassion and privacy, questions about the situation were not asked. But family is always the most important thing for Stetson and he talked about those who helped him on his journey.

“The biggest thing that I’ve learned is you can’t do it alone,” Wright said. “As much glory as I get, how great people think I am, and all that kind of stuff, you’re nobody if you’re doing it alone. My family kept me positive throughout everything. My mom, dad and brothers pushed me constantly. The main thing I learned is that when you aren’t on top of the world, you are quickly reminded that the only way to get back up is with the support of family.”

Our best wishes to the entire Wright clan, and to Stetson as he continues his journey back from injury.