BRO did not charge its riders entrance fees, unlike the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).

The organization instituted what is now known as the sudden-death format in bull riding, where the contestants compete in rounds until a winner is established.

[1] BRO attracted many of the top PRCA bull riders of the 1990s such as Charlie Sampson, Cody Snyder, Ted Nuce, Cody Lambert, Tuff Hedeman, Jim Sharp, Ty Murray, Scott Mendes, Brent Thurman, Glen Keeley, Jerome Davis, and Adriano Morães.

[4] The 1996-1997 World Finals took place in Las Vegas, Nevada, [4] and it was the first rodeo/bull riding event to be televised live and in prime time on a major network, with it being on Fox.

[8][2] Michael Gaffney, one of the founders of the PBR, described how tough it was to make ends meet when he was bull riding in the PRCA.

Riders such as Hedeman, Lambert, and Cody Custer were in this group, which Sullivan needed to attract enough fans.

For younger riders like himself, Gaffney related that Sullivan used "ploy and scare tactics" to sign that contract.

Just shortly before that season's World Finals event was scheduled to take place, BRO went out of business.

[10] He lays the blame for the failure of BRO squarely on the shoulders of its founder, Shaw Sullivan.

According to Fournier, Sullivan was resolute that riders attempt three bulls a night, but after two, they "didn't have anything left", yet they were paired with Bodacious-like eliminator matchups.

Bull riders in the PRCA reduced their riding to just enough to try to make the lucrative National Finals Rodeo.

On the other hand, the PBR tour, requiring its top riders to compete in all of its major league events, was considered a better choice financially and physically.

However, one of the event's backers, Stedman Graham, was not pleased with the turnout, but he did recognize that market needed to be developed.

The year 1993 was the third time that Sullivan held the Acme Bull Riders Only Main Event, but it was the first for Chicago.

The championship round was held in Long Beach in November and by that time $250,000 in prize money would have been disbursed.

[13] One of the biggest participants and contributors to both the PRCA and BRO was bull riding champion and hall-of-famer Tuff Hedeman.

"[14] In August 1993, the Bull Riders Only tour stopped at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

His top accomplishment was capturing the Mountain States Circuit Bull Riding Championship in 1985.

[17] The 1996 BRO World Championships were held April 3–5, 1997 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Despite some injuries, Terry Don West was intent on riding a bull named Woolly Bully on finals night.

"This, tonight, is a dream come true," West said of that night's ride which won him the 1996 Bull Riders Only world championship title.

Although the bull was retired due to injuries he was causing riders, many wanted to see him buck again for another ride.

The then rider in the works to match up with him was Terry Don West, who just won the PRCA bull riding champion title.

[11] In 1993, Tuff Hedeman participated in the 1993 BRO World Finals, in Long Beach, California.

[22] On Saturday, April 5, 1997, Terry Don West planned to take on Bodacious for a fifth and final time in an attempt to break their 2-2 tie.

Fox Television talked West into it, with the $10,000 purse being donated to Sunrise Children's Hospital.

[23][22] This event was to cap off the $1 million Wrangler Bull Riders Only (BRO) 1996 World Championships at the Thomas & Mack Center.