Sylvester Ritter

Sylvester Ritter was a professional wrestler best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation as Junkyard Dog.

Profile

• Height: 6'3"
• Weight: 280 lbs
• Birthday: December 13, 1953
• Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
• Date of Death: June 2, 1998 (auto accident)
• Trained By: Sonny King
• Professional Debut: 1978
• Previous Identities: Junkyard Dog, JYD, Stagger Lee, Leroy Rochester, Big Daddy Ritter
• Finishing/Signature Move(s): The Thump
• Managers: J.R. Foley

Career

JYD, as he was also known, was one of the most popular wrestlers of the 1980s and 1990s. He often brought kids into the ring after his matches during his WWF days. In the Mid-South, his entrance music was "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen. Later, his entrance music was "Atomic Dog" by P. Funker George Clinton. Even later, his entrance song was "Grab Them Cakes" (about buttocks-fondling) sung by himself. The character of Jerome "Chef" McElroy on the animated series South Park is based somewhat on him.

He feuded with many heels in the Mid-South region such as Hacksaw Butch Reed who was later "The Natural" Butch Reed in the WWF.

JYD had a brief run in WCW where he feuded with Ric Flair and won the Six-Man Tag Team Championship with Ricky Morton and Tommy Rich.

JYD died in a car crash in South Carolina while on his leaving his daughter's high school graduation. In 2004, his daughter Latoya Ritter represented her late father as he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame at Wrestlemania XX.

Championships/Accomplishments

• 2-time Calgary Stampede North American Heavyweight Champion
• 3-time Mid-South Louisiana Heavyweight Champion
• 8-time Mid-South Tag-Team Champion (with Buck Robley once, Terry Orndorff once, Killer Kox once, Dick Murdoch 3 times, Mike George once and Jerry Stubbs once)
• 1-time Mid-American Tag Team Champion (with Gypsy Joe)
• 4-time Mid-South North American Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time WCW World Six-Man Tag-Team Champion (with Ricky Morton & Tommy Rich)
• 1-time USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion
• NWA Bunkhouse Stampede Winner (1988)

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 51 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003.
• JYD won the PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler Award in 1980.