Stetson Wright is clearly back, and his comeback is reading a lot like Tom Brady’s rise to GOAT status.
When Tom Brady walked back onto an NFL field after his big injury, the critics wondered whether he could ever be the same. But then, he dominated, again and again, and again.
On opening night of the 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Stetson Wright delivered his own version of that repeat greatness storyline. He stepped back into the arena, and the 8x World Champion held nothing back, proving that his setback was only fuel in his fire.
After being sidelined by injury, and missing almost two complete NFR's, there were many questions around the eight-time world champion. Then Stetson showed up to the 2025 regular season and did so with dominance. Going into 11th NFR, he was sitting on top in the all-around, second in the bull riding, and twelfth in the saddle bronc.
Despite an incredible regular season, late-season injuries once again raised the same question some have repeated for a couple of years now. Can Stetson Wright ever return to the level he once dominated at? Will Stetson come back the same?
It’s a story that has followed him through every setback, but Round 1 proved he may be even better than before. When Stetson was forced to bow out of the 2023 NFR, he promised fans he would return but not until he was 100% healed and fully prepared to reclaim what he believes is his, the gold buckles and the top spot.
On opening night of the 2025 Finals, he showed the world he meant every word. Stetson came into the Thomas & Mack and won both the saddle bronc riding and the bull riding in the same night, instantly shifting the tone of the entire NFR. He really is chasing that triple crown victory this year.
It wasn’t just a win, it was a big message.
They Call Him Superman
Stetson Wright is on another level. They say he is in a league of his own. This is why they call him Superman.
He has talent and grit that is unrecognizable in the ordinary cowboy. He has dual event dominance that rodeo has rarely seen. They compare him to the great hall of famers like Trevor Brazile and Ty Murray. He is the best of his generation without a doubt.
Very few athletes in any sport can win at the highest level in two disciplines, especially on the same night, under the brightest lights. Stetson didn’t just come back strong, he controlled the energy in the building. As soon as those gates cracked, fans knew he was back. He was a huge 90 points in the saddle bronc riding on Wayne Vold Rodeo’s Renegade.
All eyes were on the blue in the bull riding. Could he do it again? Sure enough, Wright made nearly a flawless ride on a bull he has had success on before. He was 89.75 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Big Shasta and took his second round win of the night.
That’s not a normal comeback. That is not expected. That’s Brady-esque.
The level where greatness feels inevitable, even after a career-threatening setback.
The Comeback Factor....
Tom Brady’s greatness wasn’t just the rings. He was most impressive in his resilience, the ability to rise after setbacks and return sharper yet. Rodeo fans saw that exact quality in Stetson last night.
He spent last December in the stands as a spectator and commentator while recovering from injury. Now he is back, not just to participate but to reclaim.
Just like Brady, Stetson has the rare ability to shift from legend to underdog to an unavoidable favorite all in one motion. Round 1 wasn’t just a win, it was a re-establishment.
Performing best when it matters most, like a game-winning drive. He took the necessary time off, trained with meticulous precision committed to longevity — that right there is what champions are built from.
Winning both roughstock events on opening night immediately tightened the world title races and put pressure on everyone chasing him, much like watching a Brady fourth-quarter comeback. The greatest ones don’t just perform. They elevate everyone around them and completely terrify their competition.
Greatest of All Time?
Fans have whispered it for years and athletes have hinted at it too. Now this story is beginning to match the argument. What Tom Brady is to football, Stetson Wright is to rodeo. The generational dominance, the multi-discipline mastery, that comeback story with fire behind it, and the ability to turn pressure into results.
There are nine nights left with world titles to chase. There are also many records well in reach and a superstar reminding the world why he’s the best.
It is not out of the picture for Stetson to go home with three gold buckles this year. He has rivals in his way, some of his toughest competition being his own brothers. But if Wright can pull off the triple crown, he will further elevate into a category of greatness few athletes in any sport ever reach.
While Stetson Wright doesn’t lead a team in the traditional Tom Brady sense, he does lead a dynasty. His huddle is made up of brothers who ride beside him. His family name is already carved into rodeo history, yet every time Stetson nods his head, he sharpens that legacy even more. What he carries into the arena isn’t just personal ambition but the weight of generations and the pride of a family that has rewritten the standard of all greatness.
Behind him is also the support of fans who are watching history be made in real time. In that sense, Stetson may not have a roster, but he has something even stronger, a bloodline built for big scores and gold buckles and a crowd that believes he was born for them.
Like Tom Brady stepping onto the field with a legacy already secured yet still hungry for more, Stetson Wright continues to redefine what dominance looks like. After the opening night here in 2025 he just delivered, one thing rings very clearly, the comeback is real and it's dangerous.
Welcome back champ! You're just getting started!