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Sylvester Ritter

Dec 13, 1952 - Jun 02, 1998 (45 years old) in Wadesboro, North Carolina, USA

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.

Known For

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WWF Wrestling Challenge
The Junkyard Dog
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Saturday Night's Main Event
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Andre the Giant
Self (archive footage)
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The True Story of WrestleMania
Junkyard Dog
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WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
Junkyard Dog
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WrestleMania II
The Junkyard Dog
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WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
Junkyard Dog
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WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event
Junkyard Dog
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WWE: The Ladder Match
Big Daddy Ritter
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Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports
The Junkyard Dog

Credits