PBR’s Yankees and the Young Guns: The Rise of a Rivalry
Image Courtesy of PBR Picture Credit: PBRWhen the 2025 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Teams Series kicked off with Oklahoma Wildcatter Days the first game of the season set the tone for what would become an entirely organic rivalry between the flock of the Florida Freedom and reigning and defending champions the Austin Gamblers.
For many fans of the sport, the Austin Gamblers are PBR’s version of the New York Yankees. As the reigning champions with a roster stacked with legendary riders like three-time PBR World Champion Jose Vitor Leme and seven time PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) Bull Riding World Champion Sage Kimzey, they are the established powerhouse, the team with a championship pedigree that everyone wants to take down. They are a team built on winning, with a reputation for dominance that has earned them both a fiercely loyal fanbase and a chorus of boos from rivals. However, the Freedom, a team that seems to relish its underdog status, has been more than up to the challenge this season. They have become the first team to beat Austin a stunning three times this season
The seeds of the rivalry were truly planted and began to grow at Gambler Days in Austin. John Crimber started it all by initially throwing the horns down during the opening of the event. He appeared taken aback by the flaunting of the Championship buckle by the hometown team and he let them know it. You can see the intial moment here. This was only the beginning. After securing the win against the hometown team, Crimber repeated the horns down taunt and capped it by cupping his ear to the crowd, relishing in their disapproval. You can check out that winning ride and the taunt that truly lit the rivalry on fire here:
The Gamblers, as you might expect, did not take the slight very well. In a show of force that proves just how seriously they take this rivalry, they called in a formidable partner: WWE legend and “The Phenom” The Undertaker. On the Sunday of Gambler Days, The Undertaker met with John Crimber and got him to agree to agree to a surprising cease-fire– no more “horns down” taunts, check out the interaction here. It was a fascinating interaction that added a bit more to this rivalry. While Crimber may have wisely chosen to back down in that moment, he proved that his words were just as potent. He may have stopped using the gesture, but the war of words was just beginning.
This past Sunday, the two teams met for the third time this season, with the Florida Freedom annihilating the Austin Gamblers in a perfect game, riding all five of their bulls for a 434.25-0 victory. This dominant win tied both teams at the top of the PBR Camping World Teams Series standings.
After the game, John Crimber’s comments to Kate Harrison added the final piece to the rivalry, as he declared it migth be time to rename the Austin Gamblers to the “Florida Gamblers” because the results of their matchups this year have shown that they own them. You can see his comments here.
These comments, of course, stirred up some of the loyal fanbase of Austin and PBR to take Crimber to task for the unsportsmanlike feel of his comments. Some fans were quick to warn him that he may have lit a fire under the likes of Dalton “Mr. Ninety-Pointer” Kasel and Jose Vitor Leme, daring him to regret those words.
But, what would sports be like without a little bit of trash talk between rival teams or their membes? A rivalry fueled by genuine emotion and competitive banter is a sports fan dream. It adds a level of entertainment and passion that can’t be manufcatured. It transforms a simple competition into a high-stakes fued.
With both teams now tied atop the standings, their rivalry will undoubtedly be one to watch. The last head-to-head game between these two teams is scheduled for September 19thduring “Maverick Days” in Belmont Park, NY. It’s the final regular-season showdown, a last chance for the Gamblers to get their revenge or the Freedom to back up Crimber’s words. The next time these two could meet would be on the biggest stage of all, during the Championship weekend in Las Vegas.