The Carolina Cowboys began their PBR Teams Championship defence in Las Vegas with a win in the opening round, but the bigger story remains Clay Guiton’s health after the frightening wreck he suffered in February. Carolina arrived as defending champions with a chance to do something no franchise has managed before: win two PBR titles, including back-to-back crowns.
That context gives every ride added weight for the Cowboys. Guiton was central to their 2025 run, helping Carolina capture its first title and earning Championship MVP honours, but his wreck aboard Lieutenant Dan during the PBR Unleash The Beast season was the kind of moment that reminded everyone how quickly things can change in this sport.
Carolina make the first move
On Friday in Las Vegas, the Cowboys faced the No. 7 New York Mavericks in the opening round of the PBR Teams Championship and handled the pressure well enough to keep their repeat bid alive. Bob Mitchell opened with an 89.25-point ride on Rhino USA Mouse Trap, then Thiago Salgado posted 89.75 points on Humdinger to put Carolina ahead by half a point.
That was the kind of start defending champions want. It was not flawless, but it was composed, and in a championship format that can turn quickly, the ability to stay in front matters.
Why Guiton’s absence still hangs over Carolina
Guiton’s February wreck was severe enough to leave a lasting mark on the conversation around Carolina. He suffered a grand mal seizure on the arena dirt after the incident aboard Lieutenant Dan, and that kind of event naturally puts his status and the Cowboys’ ceiling under scrutiny.
For a team trying to defend a title in Las Vegas, that matters. The Cowboys do not just need good rides; they need stability, because their best route to a historic repeat depends on the same rider group that carried them in 2025.
What the opening round says next
There is still a long way to go, but Carolina’s opening-round performance showed why they are in the conversation. They answered the pressure of the moment, with Salgado’s ride especially important in a tight matchup, while Guilherme Valleiras was only able to last 7.32 seconds aboard Chicken In Black before hitting the dirt.
What comes next is simple: the Cowboys now have to keep winning while the questions around Guiton remain unresolved. If they are to become the first franchise to claim two PBR titles, they will need to do it under the same kind of pressure that has followed them since February.
