Sylvester Ritter
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.
Acted in
Biography: Wrestlemania I
2022
as Self (archival footage) - The Junkyard Dog
Andre the Giant
2018
as Self (archive footage)
Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
2013
as Junkyard Dog / Stagger Lee
The True Story of WrestleMania
2011
as Junkyard Dog
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
2010
as Junkyard Dog
WWE: Legends of Wrestling - Jerry the King Lawler and Junkyard Dog
2010
WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event
2009
as Junkyard Dog
Giants, Midgets, Heroes and Villains II
2008
as The Junkyard Dog
Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1
2007
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE: The Ladder Match
2007
as Big Daddy Ritter
Heroes of World Class
2006
as Junkyard Dog
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
2006
as Junkyard Dog
WWE Hall of Fame 2004
2004
ECW Wrestlepalooza 1998
1998
as Junkyard Dog (Honoree)
The Life And Times of Paul Boesch
1994
as Junkyard Dog (archive footage)
WCW WrestleWar 1991
1991
as The Junkyard Dog
WCW Halloween Havoc '90
1990
as Junkyard Dog
WCW Great American Bash '90: New Revolution
1990
as The Junkyard Dog
WCW Clash of The Champions XI: Coastal Crush
1990
as The Junkyard Dog
WCW Clash of The Champions VI: Ragin' Cajun
1989
as The Junkyard Dog
WCW Clash of The Champions V: St. Valentine's Massacre
1989
as The Junkyard Dog
NWA Starrcade '88: True Gritt
1988
as The Junkyard Dog
WCW Clash of The Champions IV: Season's Beatings
1988
as The Junkyard Dog (Appearance)
WWE U.K. Rampage 1988
1988
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE SummerSlam 1988
1988
as The Junkyard Dog
Hulkamania 3
1988
as The Junkyard Dog
The Best of the WWF: volume 16 Around the World
1988
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE WrestleMania IV
1988
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE Royal Rumble
1988
as The Junkyard Dog
The Best of the WWF: volume 14
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE Houston Wrestling: December '87
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '87
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE Houston Wrestling: The Paul Boesch Retirement Show
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
The Best of the WWF: volume 11
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE WrestleMania III
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
The Best of the WWF: volume 10
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: January '87
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE Houston Wrestling: November '86
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
The Best of the WWF: volume 9
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
WWF Wrestling Challenge
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE The Big Event
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
The Best of the WWF: volume 8
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: May '86
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
WrestleMania II
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: March '86
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
The Wrestling Classic
1985
as The Junkyard Dog
WrestleMania
1985
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE Pay Per View
1985
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE Pay Per View
1985
as Junkyard Dog
Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports
1985
as The Junkyard Dog (archive footage)
The WWF's Most Unusual Matches
1985
as The Junkyard Dog
WWF's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest
1985
as Junkyard Dog
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: December '84
1984
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE St. Louis Wrestling: September '84
1984
as The Junkyard Dog
NWA Lords of The Ring
1984
as The Junkyard Dog
WCCW Parade of Champions
1984
as The Junkyard Dog
NWA Boogie Jam
1984
as The Junkyard Dog
WCCW Thanksgiving Star Wars '83
1983
as The Junkyard Dog