Before the PBR: Bull Mania ’89 | The Night Bull Riding Changed Forever

Before the lights, the million-dollar purses, and the rise of the Professional Bull Riders, there was Bull Mania 1989. Held at the legendary Lazy E Arena, this groundbreaking event brought together the greatest bull riders of the era — Lane Frost, Don Gay, Jim Sharp and more — all battling for a massive $40,000 purse at a time when rodeo had never seen anything like it. Bull Mania wasn’t just another rodeo. It was the spark that helped inspire a new vision for the sport — a standalone showcase built around the toughest riders and rankest bulls in the world. Years later, that idea would become the PBR. This retro film captures the grit, danger, and raw electricity of an era when cowboys rode for pride, glory, and a shot at changing the future of bull riding forever. Vintage rodeo. Legendary cowboys. The birth of a movement.