Sylvester Ritter
Acting • Born 1952-12-13 – Died 1998-06-02
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.
Filmography
79 credits
Heroes of World Class
Movie • 2006
Junkyard Dog
WrestleMania
Movie • 1985
The Junkyard Dog
WrestleMania II
Movie • 1986
The Junkyard Dog
WWE WrestleMania III
Movie • 1987
The Junkyard Dog
The Wrestling Classic
Movie • 1985
The Junkyard Dog
NWA Starrcade 1988
Movie • 1988
The Junkyard Dog
WCW The Great American Bash 1990
Movie • 1990
The Junkyard Dog
WCW Halloween Havoc 1990
Movie • 1990
Junkyard Dog
NWA Clash of The Champions IV: Season's Beatings
Movie • 1988
The Junkyard Dog (Appearance)
WCW WrestleWar 1991
Movie • 1991
The Junkyard Dog
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
Movie • 2006
Junkyard Dog
Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports
Movie • 1987
The Junkyard Dog
Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports
Movie • 1985
The Junkyard Dog (archive footage)
Biography: Wrestlemania I
Movie • 2022
Self (archival footage) - The Junkyard Dog
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
Movie • 2010
Junkyard Dog
Hulkamania 3
Movie • 1988
The Junkyard Dog
Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
Movie • 2013
Junkyard Dog / Stagger Lee
The Best of the WWF: volume 8
Movie • 1986
The Junkyard Dog
The Best of the WWF: volume 9
Movie • 1986
The Junkyard Dog
The Best of the WWF: volume 10
Movie • 1987
The Junkyard Dog
The Best of the WWF: volume 11
Movie • 1987
The Junkyard Dog
The Best of the WWF: volume 14
Movie • 1987
The Junkyard Dog
The Best of the WWF: volume 16 Around the World
Movie • 1988
The Junkyard Dog
Most Unusual Matches
Movie • 1985
The Junkyard Dog
Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1
Movie • 2007
The Junkyard Dog
Giants, Midgets, Heroes and Villains II
Movie • 2008
The Junkyard Dog
Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!
Movie • 1985
Junkyard Dog
The Life And Times of Paul Boesch
Movie • 1994
Junkyard Dog (archive footage)
WWE: The Ladder Match
Movie • 2007
Big Daddy Ritter
WWE U.K. Rampage 1988
Movie • 1988
The Junkyard Dog
WWE Houston Wrestling: The Paul Boesch Retirement Show
Movie • 1987
The Junkyard Dog
WWE Houston Wrestling: December '87
Movie • 1987
The Junkyard Dog
WWE Houston Wrestling: November '86
Movie • 1986
The Junkyard Dog
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: March '86
Movie • 1986
The Junkyard Dog
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: January '87
Movie • 1987
The Junkyard Dog
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: May '86
Movie • 1986
The Junkyard Dog
WWE St. Louis Wrestling: September '84
Movie • 1984
The Junkyard Dog
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '87
Movie • 1987
The Junkyard Dog
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: December '84
Movie • 1984
The Junkyard Dog
WWE Hall of Fame 2004
Movie • 2004
Self
Andre the Giant
Movie • 2018
Self (archive footage)
WWE: Legends of Wrestling - Jerry the King Lawler and Junkyard Dog
Movie • 2010
WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event
Movie • 2009
Junkyard Dog
The True Story of WrestleMania
Movie • 2011
Junkyard Dog
WWE Royal Rumble 1988
Movie • 1988
The Junkyard Dog
WWE WrestleMania IV
Movie • 1988
The Junkyard Dog
WWE SummerSlam 1988
Movie • 1988
The Junkyard Dog
NWA Clash of The Champions VI: Ragin' Cajun
Movie • 1989
The Junkyard Dog
NWA Clash of The Champions V: St. Valentine's Massacre
Movie • 1989
The Junkyard Dog
NWA Boogie Jam
Movie • 1984
The Junkyard Dog
NWA Clash of the Champions XI: Coastal Crush
Movie • 1990
The Junkyard Dog
WCCW Parade of Champions
Movie • 1984
The Junkyard Dog
NWA Lords of The Ring
Movie • 1984
The Junkyard Dog
WWE The Big Event
Movie • 1986
The Junkyard Dog
ECW Wrestlepalooza 1998
Movie • 1998
Junkyard Dog (Honoree)
WCCW Thanksgiving Star Wars '83
Movie • 1983
The Junkyard Dog
The WWF's Even More Unusual Matches
Movie • 1987
The Junkyard Dog
The WWF's Amazing Managers
Movie • 1985
The Junkyard Dog
George "The Animal" Steele
Movie • 1987
The Junkyard Dog
Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments
Movie • 1987
Junkyard Dog
Jake "The Snake" Roberts
Movie • 1987
The Junkyard Dog
The Greatest Stars of the 80's
Movie • 2005
Junkyard Dog (Archive Footage)
WWE Grudge Match
Movie • 1986
Junkyard Dog
WWF Wrestling Challenge
TV • 1986
The Junkyard Dog
Saturday Night's Main Event
TV • 1985
Junkyard Dog
Dark Side of the Ring
TV • 2019
Self (Archival Footage)
World Class Championship Wrestling
TV • 1982
Junkyard Dog
WWE Old School
TV • 1973
Junkyard Dog
WWE Old School
TV • 1973
The Junkyard Dog
Mid-South Wrestling
TV • 1981
Junkyard Dog (Archive footage)
Mid-South Wrestling
TV • 1981
Stagger Lee
Mid-South Wrestling
TV • 1981
Junkyard Dog
Mid-South Wrestling
TV • 1981
Junkyard Dog (Special Referee)
Tuesday Night Titans
TV • 1984
The Junkyard Dog
Tuesday Night Titans
TV • 1984
Junkyard Dog
NWA World Championship Wrestling
TV • 1985
Junkyard Dog
WCW Arena Shows
TV • 1983
The Junkyard Dog
Clash of the Champions
TV • 1988
The Junkyard Dog (Appearance)
Clash of the Champions
TV • 1988
The Junkyard Dog