Sylvester Ritter
Biography
Sylvester Ritter was an American professional wrestler and professional football player, best known for his work in Mid-South Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation as The Junkyard Dog (or JYD for short), a nickname Ritter received while working in a wrecking yard. Entering the ring with his trademark chain attached to a dog collar, to the music of Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust," JYD regularly headlined cards that sold out the Louisiana Superdome and other major venues, becoming "the first blackwrestler to be made the undisputed top star of his promotion". JYD was one of the most electrifying and charismatic wrestlers in the country, particularly during his peak in the early 1980s. JYD was most known for his head butt and upper-body strength, the latter of which saw him regularly body slam such large wrestlers as The One Man Gang, Kamala, and King Kong Bundy. The word "Thump," which referred to JYD's power slam, was prominently displayed on his wrestling trunks.
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (47)
Biography: Wrestlemania I
as Self (archival footage) - The Junkyard Dog
2022
Andre the Giant
as Self (archive footage)
2018
Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
as Junkyard Dog / Stagger Lee
2013
The True Story of WrestleMania
as Junkyard Dog
2011
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
as Junkyard Dog
2010
WWE: Legends of Wrestling - Jerry the King Lawler and Junkyard Dog
2010
WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event
as Junkyard Dog
2009
Giants, Midgets, Heroes and Villains II
as The Junkyard Dog
2008
Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1
as The Junkyard Dog
2007
WWE: The Ladder Match
as Big Daddy Ritter
2007
Heroes of World Class
as Junkyard Dog
2006
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
as Junkyard Dog
2006
The Greatest Stars of the 80's
as Junkyard Dog (Archive Footage)
2005
WWE Hall of Fame 2004
as Self
2004
ECW Wrestlepalooza 1998
as Junkyard Dog (Honoree)
1998
The Life And Times of Paul Boesch
as Junkyard Dog (archive footage)
1994
WCW WrestleWar 1991
as The Junkyard Dog
1991
WCW Halloween Havoc 1990
as Junkyard Dog
1990
WCW The Great American Bash 1990
as The Junkyard Dog
1990
NWA Clash of the Champions XI: Coastal Crush
as The Junkyard Dog
1990
NWA Clash of The Champions VI: Ragin' Cajun
as The Junkyard Dog
1989
NWA Clash of The Champions V: St. Valentine's Massacre
as The Junkyard Dog
1989
NWA Starrcade 1988
as The Junkyard Dog
1988
NWA Clash of The Champions IV: Season's Beatings
as The Junkyard Dog (Appearance)
1988
WWE U.K. Rampage 1988
as The Junkyard Dog
1988
WWE SummerSlam 1988
as The Junkyard Dog
1988
Hulkamania 3
as The Junkyard Dog
1988
The Best of the WWF: volume 16 Around the World
as The Junkyard Dog
1988
WWE WrestleMania IV
as The Junkyard Dog
1988
WrestleMania IV
as Junkyard Dog
1988
WWE Royal Rumble 1988
as The Junkyard Dog
1988
The Best of the WWF: volume 14
as The Junkyard Dog
1987
George "The Animal" Steele
as The Junkyard Dog
1987
Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments
as Junkyard Dog
1987
WWE Houston Wrestling: December '87
as The Junkyard Dog
1987
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '87
as The Junkyard Dog
1987
WWE Houston Wrestling: The Paul Boesch Retirement Show
as The Junkyard Dog
1987
Jake "The Snake" Roberts
as The Junkyard Dog
1987
The Best of the WWF: volume 11
as The Junkyard Dog
1987
WWE WrestleMania III
as The Junkyard Dog
1987
WrestleMania III
as Junkyard Dog
1987
The Best of the WWF: volume 10
as The Junkyard Dog
1987
The WWF's Even More Unusual Matches
as The Junkyard Dog
1987
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: January '87
as The Junkyard Dog
1987
Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports
as The Junkyard Dog
1987
WWE Houston Wrestling: November '86
as The Junkyard Dog
1986
The Best of the WWF: volume 9
as The Junkyard Dog
1986
