Meet the 2025 Memphis in May World BBQ Champions

The 2025 World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest wrapped up in Memphis with more than 150 teams showcasing their skills across ribs, shoulder, whole hog, and various specialty categories. When the smoke cleared at Liberty Park on May 17, Heath Riles BBQ was crowned Grand Champion for the first time.

The team, based in Olive Branch and made up of 26 members from across the Mid-South and beyond, celebrated their victory with excitement. “I’m feeling a little overexcited at the moment,” said Riles after accepting two checks totaling $39,000. “It takes a village. It’s a huge team effort,” he added, giving credit to everyone from pitmasters to those keeping water bottles cold and the site clean.

Heath Riles BBQ also earned first place in the Ribs division—marking their third win in that category.

2025 Grand Champion:

• Heath Riles BBQ

Whole Hog Winners:

1. Will Be Que

2. Blues Hog

3. Southern Hogs

4. Hometown BBQ

5. Pickin & Grillin BBQ

6. Wicker’s

7. The Pig Diamonds

8. Rusty’s Smoke BBQ

9. Boars Night Out BBQ

10. The Shed BBQ

Shoulder Category:

1. Big Bob Gibson

2. Team Waterdog

3. Shoats & Skins

4. Ribdiculous Bar-B-Krewe

5. Smoke BBQ Team

6. Sweet Swine O’ Mine

7. First Class BBQ

8. Moe Cason BBQ

9. The Pork University

10. Brown Chicken Brown Cow

Ribs Division:

1. Heath Riles BBQ

2. The Swinos

3. Slabs A Smokin

4. Auto Be Grillin

5. Killer Grillers

6. Fat Side Up

7. Porkin’ in the Park

8. Serial Grilliers

9. Smokin with an Attitude

10. Big O’s BBQ

Additional Categories & Winners:

Patio Porker:

• Tristar Smokers

• Smokin’ Hot & Saucy

• The Meatles

• BGC Pit Crew (Boys & Girls Clubs)

Kingsford Tour of Champions:

• Russell’s Dam Good BBQ

• Big Bob Gibson

• Bubba Grills

• Cadillac Grills

Seafood:

• Redneck BBQ Express

• Woods Custom Cookers

• Big O’s BBQ

• Music City Smokers

Exotic Meats:

• Crosstown Neighborhood BBQ

• Cadillac Grills

• Blues Hog BBQ

• Bluff City Smokers

Poultry:

• Wicker’s BBQ (won via coin toss per contest rules)

• Blues Hog

• Cajun Juju

• Willingham’s

Beef:

• Come & Eat It

• Norwegian National Barbecue Team

• Pitmaker BBQ Addiction

• Rufus Hog BBQ

Green Grilling Award:

• Bubba Grills

Turkey Smoke:

• Swine & Dine

• Mack BBQ

• Big O’s BBQ

• Killer Grillers

Hot Wings:

• Cotton Pickin’ Porkers

• Heath Riles BBQ

• Cajun Juju

• Come & Eat It

Sauce Categories:

• Tomato: Boars Night Out, Moe Cason BBQ, Cajun Juju

• Mustard: Smoke BBQ Team, Ubons, Barbecue Republic, Porkcrastinators

• Vinegar: Woods Custom Cookers, Boars Night Out, Come & Eat It, Heath Riles BBQ

SCA Steak Competition:

• Ty Higgins

Ms. Piggie Idol:

• Swine & Dine

T-shirt Design:

• Too Sauced to Pork

Best Booth:

• Swine & Dine

Best Patio:

• Cotton Mouth Creek BBQ

Junior Barbecue Cooking Contest:

Overall Grand Champion:

• Give em Hell

Pork Chop:

1. KB’s Outdoor Kitchen

2. Give em Hell

3. Totally Bodacious BBQ

4. Big O’s BBQ

Steak:

1. Give em Hell

2. Big O’s BBQ

3. Rum Runners BBQ

4. DJ Squared

Chicken:

1. KB’s Outdoor Kitchen

2. Give em Hell

3. Rum Runners BBQ

4. Arkansas Smoke Show

Desserts:

1. Xtown Que

2. Getting Basted

3. Give em Hell

4. Family Tradition