[5] Barrio's first performance in public as a novillero (novice bullfighter who fights yearling bulls) without picadores was on 13 July 2008 at Las Ventas de Retamosa in the province of Toledo.
He got great recognition as a novillero, winning the prizes for the best novillero at the Feria de San Isidro ("Saint Isidore's Fair) in 2011, awarded at Bilbao and Santander, and also the Golden Potter (Villaseca de la Sagra), the Silver Frascuelo (Moralzarzal), and the Golden Spike (Calasparra).
Standing as "godfather" for the occasion was José Pedro Prados Martín "El Fundi", while Juan del Álamo bore witness.
Lorenzo's horn had passed through the bullfighter's axilla, penetrating his right lung and rupturing his thoracic aorta, leading to massive blood loss and a quick death.
[13] Barrio's body was brought to his hometown, and a chapel of rest (place where respects can be paid to one who has died) was set up at the local sports centre.
[14][15] After Barrio's death, many animal rights and anti-bullfighting advocates published messages that could have constituted crimes, leading the Fundación del Toro de Lidia ("Fighting Bull Foundation") and Víctor Barrio's family to take legal action against messages that they considered insulting and slanderous.
Bulls were supplied by the Juan Pedro Domecq, Núñez del Cuvillo, Zalduendo, Domingo Hernández, and Victoriano del Río ranches, and were slain by Juan José Padilla, José Tomás, Morante de la Puebla, Julián López Escobar ("El Juli"), Manzanares hijo, and Alejandro Talavante.