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