Are bulls stabbed before a bullfight begins?

For at least the last 50 years, every time the UK and Spain debate Gibraltar or the Catalans argue independence, some exaggeration about bullfighting is going to come up. In the movie Gladiator I always wondered why the Emperor felt the need to stab Maximus in the back and rig what took place in the arena also. read more

No, bulls are not stabbed before the fight begins -- if you mean before the bull enters the ring. However, the bullfight is a long and ritualized procedure. At the beginning several picadors on horseback will attempt to stab the bull with small spears. read more