[Junkyard Dog GALLERY]
Check out Junkyard Dog’s WWE Alumni profile here!
Title History
- NWA Mid America tag team titles w/ Gypsy Joe won a Tournament (December 25, 1977);
- Stampede North American heavyweight title defeating Alo Leilani (December 1, 1978);
- Stampede North American heavyweight title defeating Jake Roberts (August 1979);
- Mid South Mississippi heavyweight title defeating Bull Ramos (1980);
- Mid South Louisiana heavyweight title defeating Terry Gordy (1980);
- Mid South Louisiana heavyweight title defeating Ernie Ladd (March 14, 1980);
- Mid South tag team titles w/ Buck Robley defeating Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy (April 6, 1980);
- Mid South tag team titles w/ Terry Orndorff defeating Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy (September 19, 1980);
- Mid South tag team titles w/ Killer Karl Kox defeating Leroy Brown and Ernie Ladd (January 29, 1981);
- Mid South tag team titles w/ Dick Murdoch defeating Super Destroyer and The Grappler (April 27, 1981);
- Mid South tag team titles w/ Dick Murdoch defeating Afa and Sika (July 1981);
- Mid South Louisiana heavyweight title defeating Great Kabuki (October 1981);
- Mid South tag team titles w/ Mike George defeating Afa and Sika (October 15, 1981);
- Mid South tag team titles w/ Mr. Olympia defeating Afa and Sika (May 5, 1982);
- Mid South North American heavyweight title defeating Bob Roop (June 21, 1982);
- Mid South North American heavyweight title defeating Ted DiBiase (November 25, 1982);
- Mid South North American heavyweight title defeating Mr. Olympia in a tournament (April 16, 1983);
- Mid South North American heavyweight title defeating Butch Reed (October 26, 1983);
- WWF (World Wrestling Federation) Wrestling Classic Tournament Winner (November 7, 1985);
- WCW world six man tag team titles w/ Ricky Morton and Tommy Rich beat Buddy Landel and Mr. X and Dutch Mantell (February 17, 1991);
- USWA unified world heavyweight title defeating Eddie Gilbert (September 21, 1992);
Career Highlights
In The Beginning:
- Sylvester Ritter was a 2-time honorable mention All-American on the gridiron at North Carolina’s Fayetteville State University.
- 1975: Sylvester Ritter graduated with a degree in political science and a minor in geography.
- Sylvester Ritter was selected as a small-college All-American and later spent time in the Green Bay Packers organization.
- Sylvester Ritter eventually had surgery on his knee and back, which put an end to his professional football career.
- Sylvester Ritter then found a new profession.. Professional Wrestling!
Tennessee – Leroy Rochester:
- 1977: Sylvester Ritter debuted in the wrestling business for promoter Jerry Jarrett in Tennessee.
- 1977: Sylvester Ritter honed his skills in Tennessee and eventually began wrestling as “Leroy Rochester” for promoter Nick Gulas.
- 1978: Sylvester Ritter left the Tennessee area and briefly toured Germany.
Stampede Wrestling – Big Daddy Ritter:
- 1978: Sylvester Ritter then joined Stu Hart’s Stampede Wrestling in Calgary and became known as “Big Daddy” Ritter.
- Big Daddy Ritter won the Stampede North American title twice; once defeating Alo Leilani and once defeating Jake Roberts.
Mid-South Wrestling – The Junkyard Dog:
- Oklahoma-based promoter Cowboy Bill Watts gave Sylvester Ritter the name (and gimmick) – the Junkyard Dog.
- ~~~JYD’s name came from a line in a Jim Croece song from the early ’70s entitled “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.
- JYD enjoyed big-money feuds in Mid-South with such stars as Jim Duggan, Butch Reed, Tully Blanchard and One Man Gang.
- 1980: While feuding with The Fabulous Freebirds, Junkyard Dog was “blinded” by the Freebird hair removal cream.
- 1984: David von Erich Memorial “Parade of Champions”: Junkyard Dog defeated The Missing Link by disqualification at Texas Stadium.
World Wrestling Federation – The Junkyard Dog:
- Mid-80’s: Junkyard Dog signed with the Vince McMahon Jr. and the expanding World Wrestling Federation.
- Junkyard Dog became one of many Monster babyface’s who never made it to the Main Event because of Hulk Hogan.
- Junkyard Dog was one of the first to enter the ring with his own theme music, that being “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen.
- Junkyard Dog even came up with his own cheesy theme song in 1986, called “Grab Them Cakes” with himself on lead vocals.
- March 31, 1985 – WrestleMania I: Junkyard Dog defeated Intercontinental Champion Greg “The Hammer” Valentine by Count-out.
- November 7, 1985 – Wrestling Classic: Junkyard Dog beat The Iron Sheik (1st) | Junkyard Dog beat Moondog Spot (2nd).
- ~~~Junkyard Dog defeated Randy “Macho Man” Savage in the Tournament Final to win the first and only Wrestling Classic.
- January 4, 1986 – Saturday Night Main Event: Junkyard Dog and Ricky Steamboat defeated Mr. Fuji and “Magnificent” Don Muraco.
- February 15, 1986 – Saturday Night’s Main Event: Junkyard Dog defeated “Adorable” Adrian Adonis.
- April 7, 1986 – WrestleMania II: Hoss (Dory Funk Jr.) and Terry Funk defeated Junkyard Dog and Tito Santana.
- May 3, 1986 – Saturday Night Main Event: Hulk Hogan and Junkyard Dog defeated The Funk Brothers (Dory Jr. and Terry Funk).
- June 14, 1986 – MSG Network: The Junkyard Dog defeated King Kong Bundy.
- July 14, 1986 – King of The Ring: The Junkyard Dog defeated Paul Orndorff in the 1st round. Nikolai Volkoff defeated The Junkyard Dog in the quarter-finals.
- September 20, 1986 – Superstars: George Steele & The Junkyard Dog defeated Steve Lombardi & Tony Nardo.
- October 5, 1986 – Wrestling Challenge: The Junkyard Dog defeated Jimmy Jack Funk.
- October 11, 1986 – Superstars: George Steele & The Junkyard Dog defeated Steve Regal & Terry Gibbs.
- November 1, 1986 – Superstars: The Junkyard Dog defeated Moondog Rex.
- November 9, 1986 – Wrestling Challenge: George Steele & The Junkyard Dog defeated Al Navarro & Joe Mirto.
- November 22, 1986 – Superstars: The Junkyard Dog defeated Al Navarro.
- November 30, 1986 – Wrestling Challenge: George Steele & The Junkyard Dog defeated Dave Wagner & The Raider.
- December 21, 1986 – Wrestling Challenge: The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith & The Dynamite Kid) & The Junkyard Dog defeated Moondog Spot & The Dream Team (Brutus Beefcake & Greg Valentine).
- January 3, 1987 – Saturday Night’s Main Event: Junkyard Dog defeated “The King” Harley Race by disqualification.
- January 10, 1987 – Superstars: Billy Jack Haynes, George Steele & The Junkyard Dog defeated Frenchy Martin, Mike Luca & Tim Patterson.
- January 19, 1987 – MSG Network: The Junkyard Dog defeated King Harley Race by count-out.
- January 25, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: The Junkyard Dog defeats Al Navarro.
- February 14, 1987 – Superstars: The Junkyard Dog defeated John Valkower.
- February 22, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: The Junkyard Dog defeated Barry O.
- February 23, 1987 – MSG Network: Ricky Steamboat, Roddy Piper & The Junkyard Dog defeated Adrian Adonis, King Harley Race & Randy Savage.
- March 7, 1987 – Superstars: The Junkyard Dog defeated Pete Doherty.
- March 15, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: The Junkyard Dog defeated Rick Renslow.
- March 27, 1987 – WrestleMania III: Harley Race (w/ Bobby Heenan and Fabulous Moolah) defeated Junkyard Dog.
- ~~~JYD was ordered to bow to the King, but instead he curtsied and then nailed the King with a chair!
- Junkyard Dog formed a short-lived tag team with George “The Animal” Steele.
- June 13, 1987 – Superstars: The Junkyard Dog defeated Terry Gibbs.
- June 14, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: The Junkyard Dog defeated Steve Lombardi.
- June 14, 1987 – MSG Network: Paul Orndorff defeated The Junkyard Dog.
- July 12, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: The Junkyard Dog defeated Brian Costello.
- July 17, 1987 – House Show: The Junkyard Dog defeated Jose Estrada.
- July 18, 1987 – Superstars: Billy Jack Haynes, Hillbilly Jim & The Junkyard Dog defeated Bob Orton, Ron Bass & The Magnificent Muraco by count-out.
- August 2, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: The Junkyard Dog & The Killer Bees (B. Brian Blair & Jim Brunzell) defeats Dave Wagner, Joe Mirto & Tiger Chung Lee.
- August 8, 1987 – Superstars: Hillbilly Jim, The Junkyard Dog & Tito Santana defeated Bob Orton, Joe Mirto & The Magnificent Muraco.
- August 22, 1987 – MSG Network: Demolition (Ax & Smash) defeated George Steele & The Junkyard Dog by disqualification.
- August 23, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: The Junkyard Dog defeated Rick Renslow.
- August 29, 1987 – Superstars: The Junkyard Dog defeated Terry Gibbs.
- September 4, 1987 – King of The Ring: The Junkyard Dog defeated Tama in the 1st round. Danny Davis defeated The Junkyard Dog by count-out in the quarter-finals.
- October 3, 1987 – Superstars: Ivan Putski & The Junkyard Dog defeated Chris Curtis & Mike Poland.
- December 4, 1987 – House Show: The Junkyard Dog defeated Bill Dixon.
- December 13, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: Koko B. Ware & The Junkyard Dog defeated Barry Horowitz & Terry Gibbs.
- January 24, 1988 – Royal Rumble: The Junkyard Dog was in the Royal Rumble match won by Jim Duggan.
- January 25, 1988 – MSG Network: Butch Reed defeated The Junkyard Dog.
- January 31, 1988 – Wrestling Challenge: The Junkyard Dog defeated Tiger Chung Lee.
- February 20, 1988 – Superstars: The Junkyard Dog defeated Ken Johnson.
- February 21, 1988 – Wrestling Challenge: The Junkyard Dog defeated Steve Lombardi.
- February 22, 1988 – MSG Network: The Junkyard Dog defeated Smash.
- March 20, 1988 – Wrestling Challenge: The Junkyard Dog defeated George Petrovsky in a dark match.
- April 9, 1988 – Superstars: The Junkyard Dog defeated Bob Bryant.
- April 24, 1988 – Wrestling Challenge: The Junkyard Dog defeats Barry Horowitz.
- April 30, 1988 – Superstars: The Junkyard Dog defeated Iron Mike Sharpe.
- May 22, 1988 – Wrestling Challenge: The Junkyard Dog defeated Terry Gibbs.
- May 27, 1988 – MSG Network: The Junkyard Dog defeated Ron Bass.
- May 28, 1988 – Superstars: The Junkyard Dog defeated Tim Patterson.
- July 9, 1988 – Superstars: The Junkyard Dog defeated Len Kruger.
- July 17, 1988 – Wrestling Challenge: The Junkyard Dog defeated Dusty Wolfe.
- July 30, 1988 – House Show: The Junkyard Dog defeated Danny Davis.
- August 20, 1988 – Superstars: The Junkyard Dog defeated John Ziegler.
- August 29, 1988 – SummerSlam: “Ravishing” Rick Rude defeated Junkyard Dog by disqualification when Jake Roberts interfered.
- August 1988: Junkyard Dog left the World Wrestling Federation due to some personal problems.
- September 11, 1988 – MSG Network: Hercules defeated The Junkyard Dog.
- October 8, 1988 – Superstars: The Junkyard Dog defeated Brian Costello.
National Wrestling Alliance – The Junkyard Dog:
- December 26, 1988 – NWA Starrcade: Junkyard Dog won a dark bunkhouse battle royal.
- April 2, 1989 – NWA Clash of the Champions 9: The Junkyard Dog defeated Butch Reed.
- January 27, 1990 – TWA: The Junkyard Dog defeated Paul Jones in a dog collar match.
- January 30, 1990 – USWA: Junkyard Dog defeated Sheik Braddock.
- Junkyard Dog resurfaced later in the National Wrestling Alliance.
- Junkyard Dog scored several non-title victories over NWA World champion Ric Flair.
- June 13, 1990 – “Coastal Crunch” Clash of Champions: Junkyard Dog defeated “Nature Boy Ric Flair by disqualification. Ric Flair retains the NWA world heavyweight title.
- Junkyard Dog was fired by WCW management for no-showing a major live appearance and later a pay-per-view.
- July 7, 1990 – NWA The Great American Bash: The Dudes With Attitude (El Gigante, Junkyard Dog & Paul Orndorff) defeated The Four Horsemen (Arn Anderson, Barry Windham & Sid Vicious) by disqualification.
- October 6-7, 1990 – NWA WCW: Junkyard Dog defeated Harley Race.
- October 19, 1990 – NWA WCW: Junkyard Dog defeated Dr. X.
- October 27, 1990 – NWA Halloween Havoc: Junkyard Dog defeated Moondog Rex.
World Championship Wrestling – The Junkyard Dog:
- January 1, 1991 – House Show: The Junkyard Dog defeated Bill Irwin.
- January 2, 1991 – House Show: The Junkyard Dog defeated Tugboat Taylor.
- January 13, 1991 – House Show: The Junkyard Dog defeated The Minotaur.
- January 25-26, 1991 – House Show: The Junkyard Dog defeated The Iron Sheik.
- February 10, 1991 – House Show: Junkyard Dog defeated Buddy Landel.
- February 28, 1991 – House Show: The Junkyard Dog defeated Master Blaster.
- March 6, 1991 – House Show: The Junkyard Dog defeated The Cuban Assassin.
- March 18, 1991 – House Show: Junkyard Dog defeated Jack Victory.
- March 23-24, 1991 – House Show: Junkyard Dog defeated Lt. James Earl Wright.
- May 17-18, 1991 – House Show: Junkyard Dog defeated Fidel Sierra.
- May 23, 1991 – House Show: Junkyard Dog & Steve Ray defeated The Royal Family (Jack Victory & Rip Morgan).
- May 30, 1991 – House Show: Junkyard Dog & Tommy Rich defeated First Family (Jack Victory & Rip Morgan).
- June 5, 1991 – House Show: The Junkyard Dog defeated Psycho Sam.
- June 7-8, 1991 – House Show: The Junkyard Dog defeated Rip Rogers.
- July 2, 1991 – House Show: The Junkyard Dog defeated Mike Graham.
- July 14, 1991 – The Great American Bash: The Junkyard Dog defeated Black Bart in a dark match.
- August 17, 1991 – Worldwide: Steve Armstrong, The Junkyard Dog & Tracy Smothers defeated The York Foundation (Richard Morton, Terrance Taylor & Thomas Rich).
- 1992: Bill Watts took over WCW and brought his old friend (Junkyard Dog) back in for one last run.
- March 14, 1992 – Saturday Night: Ron Simmons & The Junkyard Dog defeated George South & Mike Thor.
- May 23, 1992 – Worldwide: Big Josh & The Junkyard Dog defeated Randy Starr & Tony Mella.
- June 20, 1992 – Beach Blast: Big Josh, The Junkyard Dog & The Z-Man defeated Diamond Dallas Page, Richard Morton & Tracy Smothers in a dark match.
- August 8, 1992 – Saturday Night: Big Cat & The Junkyard Dog defeated Chris Sullivan & James Motes.
- September 14, 1992 – USWA: Bill Dundee & The Junkyard Dog defeated Billy Joe Travis & Tommy Rich in a 1st blood match.
- September 21, 1992 – USWA: The Junkyard Dog defeated Eddie Gilbert to win the unified world heavyweight title.
- October 12, 1992 – USWA: Butch Reed defeated The Junkyard Dog to win the unified world heavyweight title.
- Junkyard Dog was put in a group called “Dudes With Attitudes” along with Sting, Lex Luger and Paul Orndorff.
- May 1, 1993 – Saturday Night: Jim Neidhart & The Junkyard Dog defeated Chic Donovan & Rip Rogers.
- June 5, 1993 – Saturday Night: Jim Neidhart & The Junkyard Dog defeated Dick Slater & Paul Orndorff by disqualification.
Retirement – The Junkyard Dog:
- May 1998 – ECW Wrestlepalooza: JYD made an appearance along with Bob Armstrong, Dick Slater and Masked Superstar.
- ~~~Junkyard Dog was honored as a “hardcore legend,” and got the biggest pop of the night, to the thunderous cheers of “JYD!”
- June 2, 1998: Sylvester Ritter was the victim of a fatal one-car accident on Interstate 20 near Forest, Mississippi.
- ~~~Ritter was killed about 11:40 a.m. returning home from his daughter’s high school graduation in Wadesboro, N.C.
- ~~~Ritter was 45-years old at the time of his death.
- Famous Quote: “I’m sure enough in living colour!”
- March 13, 2004 – WWE: Junkyard Dog was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame during a ceremony in New York City!
- ~~~Junkyard Dog’s daughter (Latoya Ritter) was on hand to accept the honor in place of her famous father.
- March 14, 2004 – WrestleMania XX: Junkyard Dog was honored with all the other Hall of Fame inductees during the Pay Per View.