A Sold-Out Show Sees “Venom in Denim” Reign: Texas Rattlers Get Revenge, Claim PBR Teams League No. 1 Spot!
Picture courtesy of PNR Picture Credit: PBRAs the Texas Rattlers stomped into Duluth, Georgia’s sold-out Gas South Arena for the second stop of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Teams Series, they didn’t just carry their gear; they took a massive chip on their shoulder. This wasn’t just another matchup; this was a grudge match against the very team that had soared over them and snatched away their championship dreams last October: the Florida Freedom, that high-flying “flock” they knew all too well.
Clad in their signature “Venom in Denim,” the Rattlers were there with a singular, fierce purpose. They came to deliver their unique brand of venom 8 seconds at a time, a potent antidote to last year’s bitter defeat. Each rider’s focused gaze, each tightened grip on the rope, telegraphed their mission: avenge that championship loss and prove exactly who the alpha predators were in the arena.
Thiago “Baby T” Salgado, a key piece of the Florida Freedom’s “flock”, exploded from out of the chutes atop Mighty Mouse. The bull, a powerhouse of muscle and precision, immediately went to work, unleashing powerful up-and-down bucks in a relentless rhythm, but “Baby T” was a picture of poised determination, expertly matching every thrust and drop. His body worked in perfect, unyielding sync with the honest bull beneath him. When the 8-second buzzer screamed, “Baby T” had not only stayed on but had delivered a masterful performance, earning the Freedom an impressive 86.00 points right out of the gate. It was a defiant opening statement, a clear message that the “flock” wasn’t backing down from the Rattlers’ quest for revenge. Check out Thiago’s ride below.
Responding with immediate force, Claudio Montanha exploded from the chutes aboard Mike’s Motive, ready to deliver the Rattlers’ first strike. The bull, a coiled spring of raw power, bucked with a vengeance, driving skyward and then twisting, determined to throw Montanha into the dirt before the 8-second mark. But this was the “Venom in Denim,” and Montanha was an unyielding force. He rode with a gritty determination, absorbing every bone-jarring impact, his focus razor-sharp as he matched Mike’s Motives every unpredictable move. As the 8-second whistle shrieked, a wave of relief and triumph washed over the arena. The Texas Rattlers had delivered their first potent dose of venom, seizing the lead with a phenomenal 87.25-point ride and sending a clear message: the hunted were not the hunters.
Callum Miller delivered the second dose of his “Venom in Denim,” exploding from the chutes on Swamp Donkey! The bull was a whirlwind of explosive, up-and-down fury, twisting violently to the right. But the unyielding Aussie, a picture of pure grit and rock-solid in his seat, refused to be dislodged. He rode every bone-jarring lurch until the triumphant shriek of the 8-second whistle. That ride didn’t just build on Claudio’s lead; it sent a resounding message to the Florida Freedom: this isn’t just a game; it’s a charged rematch from last year’s Teams Championship.
Florida’s last hope rested on the shoulders of their superstar and hype man, John Crimber. It was his moment to regain the lead for the flock, facing the unridden, undefeated Still Flyin’ Crazy, who entered this matchup with a pristine 5-0 record. Crimber, eyeing a climb back up the MVP standings, knew the stakes were immense. As he nodded and the gate exploded open, Still Flyin’ Crazy unleashed a furious attempt to dislodge him, but Crimber had an answer for every violent buck. He delivered a clutch, much-needed 87.50-point ride, seizing back the lead by the slimmest of margins and pushing the Rattlers’ Braidy Randolph into an absolute must-ride situation for the win.
Braidy Randolph knew precisely what was on the line. All he needed to do was to hear that 8-second whistle atop There’s Your Sign, and the “Venom in Denim” would complete their redemption arc, proving the oddsmakers at DraftKings might just have been right all along. As Randolph nodded for the gate, There’s Your Sign exploded from the chutes, throwing every trick in the book to dislodge him. But Braidy was ready, answering every violent move the bull unleashed. When the 8-second whistle finally blew, it signaled not just a qualified ride but the sweet taste of redemption for “Venom in Denim” on this thrilling night.
Indeed, it appears the smart money was on the Rattlers for this matchup. Was it a chip on their shoulder that fueled this performance? We’ll have to wait and see if the Rattlers can carry this momentum into Sunday’s game against the Austin Gamblers in the season’s first Land.com Texas Cup rivalry game—a rivalry, by the way, where the Rattlers currently hold the bragging rights. As for the “Flock” of the Florida Freedom, they’re set to face the Nashville Stampede. Be sure to tune in at 2:00 PM ET on PBR+, RidePass, YouTube, or Facebook to catch all of the action.