A Wright Brother Is Missing a Gold Buckle. Rusty Aims to Change that in 2026

When people hear the last name Wright, they don't think about just one World Championship; they think about a dynasty.

The Wright family has defined saddle bronc riding. Having many blue shirts in the Thomas and Mack every year has become the expectation and their World Championships have become the standard. It goes without saying that the last name, Wright, has become synonymous with excellence.

Yet somehow, one piece of that remarkable family legacy is still missing, and it belongs to the oldest of Cody's four boys. 

Rusty Wright has accomplished what most cowboys would spend a lifetime chasing. He has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo five times, won some of the biggest rodeos in North America. Despite all of that success, Rusty remains the only one of the four Wright brothers without a PRCA World Championship.

Could that finally change in 2026? The first half of 2026 is showing that this many be the best Rusty Wright fans have ever seen. Before Cowboy Christmas even begins, Rusty has nearly $175,000 won and is sitting second in the PRCA World Standings.

The Utah cowboy has spent nearly the entire year sitting inside the top two, locked in a season-long battle with none other than his younger brother, Stetson Wright. It's a fitting matchup. Two of the best saddle bronc riders in the world, separated by only a handful of dollars, are chasing the same gold buckle.

For Rusty, though, this season feels different because it was never the talent has never been the question. What has changed is everything outside the arena.

Over the past year, Wright has openly shared his struggles, offering an honest look into a chapter of his life that many never knew existed. In a sport where toughness often means keeping battles private, Rusty's willingness to tell his story resonated throughout the rodeo world. More importantly, he has spoken about feeling healthy again physically, mentally, and spiritually. It shows every time he nods his head in 2026.

Most recently, Wright covered his horse for 86 points at the Ponoka Stampede to advance to the prestigious Showdown Round. Just days earlier, he picked up another big victory at the Lehi Round Up. These are just two small wins in the grand scheme of a great year already. 

He's riding with a confidence that has been impossible to ignore. Ironically, the biggest obstacle between Rusty and his first gold buckle are his own three brothers. 

Superman Stetson Wright currently holds a narrow lead atop the World Standings. Ryder sits in the top ten. The reigning World Champion and youngest brother Statler sits in the top 20 and is steadily climbing the standings as well. 

With Rusty, Stetson, Ryder, and Statler Wright all well in the running, rodeo fans could see all four Wright brothers qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo this December. 

The Wright family has built one of the most decorated legacies in rodeo history and is one of the most recognizable names in the sport. The youngest brother now owns a world title of his own. His other brothers have stood at the top of the sport for years. Now, at 30 years old, Rusty Wright has a chance to add the one thing missing from his own résumé.