[Atlas Sneezed]

the bull has a fair chance of goring the crap out of the bullfighter.

No, it doesn't. They maim the bull before the matador gets in the ring with it. Note the barbed spears hanging from the animal's neck.

---

actually, the only thing they do prior to putting the bull into the ring, is to give it a superficial flesh wound, which is intended to merely make the bowl mad.

The barbed spears are inserted by bullfighters while this angry bull is in the ring.

[rahbert]

but the bull is not leaving alive, regardless of what happens.

Hate to see people get hurt, but I'd prefer the Portagee
version. PBR is another matter, bulls get points
and a chance to return, refining their skills tossing Moraes off before the buzzer..

[PAR35]

It's been a long time since I've been to a bull fight, and I don't plan to go again, but when I was there, first the guys on horseback poked it to get it bleeding, then a guy stuck the spears into the neck to weaken the animal, and only then did the matador come out to play with the injured animal.