A lot of the reigning World Champions showed Wednesday night they would factor into the RodeoHouston title picture in 2026, and it started right away in the first two events of the Second Semifinal.

Three-time reigning Tie-Down Roping World Champion Riley Webb, who won RodeoHouston in 2023, was 8.0 to win the round by one-tenth of a second over Quade Hiatt. It was Webb’s first time in the 8s in Houston and he beat out a tough Top 4 that also included Marty Yates and Kincade Henry. Everyone who advanced was 8.8 or faster.

In bareback riding right after Rocker Steiner showed why he is appointment television by riding Cervi Championship’s Storm Warning for 87 points to move his quest to repeat into the Championship Round. Steiner has already made $7,750 in Houston and has gotten better one every ride.

Another World Champion, Keenan Hayes, was right behind Steiner with 86.5 points of his own and Cole Reiner, who won Super Series I, was 86. Mason Stuller got the final spot.

Not to be outdone later in the rodeo, two-time reigning WPRA Barrel Racing World Champion Kassie Mowry made the fastest run of the rodeo by stopping the clock at 14.09 seconds. She also has the second-fastest time, a 14.17 in Super Series V, Round 3.

The next closest barrel racer was Chloe Gray with a 14.52 and Paige Jones and Emily Beisel were the other Championship qualifiers.

In steer wrestling, Holden Myers and Seth Peterson split the round win with 4.2 seconds and 2023 champion Dalton Massey was third with a 4.5-second run. The success of past champions also extended to the team roping with the 2025 winners Derrick Begay/Colter Todd taking the night with a 5.1.

The next two teams were separated by one-tenth of a second, with Brady Tryan and Paden Bray at 5.2 and Chad Masters and Jace Helton at 5.3. The final qualifiers were Bubba Buckaloo and Cole Curry at 5.8.

In the other two roughstock events, Shorty Garrett and Ernie Courson Jr. made the highest marked rides in saddle bronc riding and bull riding respectively, both coming in at 88 points.

The others left standing in the bronc riding were Eastan West, Jake Finlay, and Allen Boore, all of whom made at least $4,625 in their Super Series Meanwhile, in bull riding, the only other qualified ride was Hayden Welsh’s 84.5-point effort.

RodeoHouston continues with the First Wildcard at 6:45 PM ET on Cowboy+.