WRESTLER PROFILES

[Junk Yard Dog Gallery]	Wrestler: Junk Yard Dog (1953-1998) Real Name: Sylvester Ritter Birthday: December 13, 1953 Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina Marital Status: Height & Weight: 6'3" - 280 lbs Trained by: Sonny King Debut: 1978 Previous Names: Leroy Rochester "Big Daddy" Ritter JYD / Junk Yard Dog Finishing Move: The Thump (Powerslam) Favorite Moves: Doggy Headbutts
Wrestlers who Junk Yard Dog Feuded With: Ernie Ladd Ted DiBiase Leroy Brown Jim Duggan Tully Blanchard Mr. Wrestling II The Freebirds Butch Reed One Man Gang Paul Orndorff Bobby Eaton The Wild Samoans Roddy Piper Terry Funk Hoss Funk Jimmy Jack Funk Jimmy Hart Adrian Adonis Harley Race Roddy Piper Greg Valentine Ron Bass Dino Bravo Eddie Gilbert Four Hoursemen Ric Flair
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 & Terry Gordy (April 6, 1980); Mid South Tag Team titles w/Terry Orndorff defeating Michael Hayes & Terry Gordy (September 19, 1980); Mid South Tag Team titles w/Killer Karl Kox defeating Leroy Brown & Ernie Ladd (January 29, 1981); Mid South Tag Team titles w/Dick Murdoch defeating Super Destroyer & The Grappler (April 27, 1981); Mid South Tag Team titles w/Dick Murdoch defeating Afa & Sika (July ??, 1981); Mid South Louisiana Heavyweight title defeating Great Kabuki (October ??, 1981); Mid South Tag Team titles w/Mike George defeating Afa & Sika (October 15, 1981); Mid South Tag Team titles w/Mr. Olympia defeating Afa & 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 titles w/Ricky Morton & Tommy Rich beat Buddy Landel & Mr. X & Dutch Mantell (February 17, 1991); USWA Unified World Heavyweight title defeating Eddie Gilbert (September 21, 1992);
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 Junk Yard Dog Oklahoma-based promoter Cowboy Bill Watts gave Sylvester Ritter the name (and gimmick) - the Junk Yard 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 & One Man Gang.. 1980: While feuding with The Fabulous Freebirds, Junk Yard Dog was "blinded" by the Freebird hair removal cream.. 1984: David von Erich Memorial "Parade of Champions": Junk Yard Dog defeated The Missing Link by DQ at Texas Stadium.. World Wrestling Federation - The Junk Yard Dog Mid-80s: Junk Yard Dog signed with the Vince McMahon Jr. and the expanding World Wrestling Federation.. Junk Yard Dog became one of many Monster babyface's who never made it to the Main Event because of Hulk Hogan.. Junk Yard Dog was one of the first to enter the ring with his own theme music, that being "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen.. Junk Yard 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: Junk Yard Dog defeated Intercontinental Champion Greg "The Hammer" Valentine by Countout.. November 7, 1985 - Wrestling Classic: Junk Yard Dog beat The Iron Sheik (1st) | Junk Yard Dog beat Moondog Spot (2nd).. ~~~Junk Yard Dog defeated Randy "Macho Man" Savage in the Tournament Final to win the first and only Wrestling Classic.. January 4, 1986 - SNME: Junk Yard Dog & Ricky Steamboat defeated Mr. Fuji & "Magnificent" Don Muraco.. February 15, 1986 - Saturday Night's Main Event: Junk Yard Dog defeated "Adorable" Adrian Adonis.. April 2, 1986 - WrestleMania II: Hoss (Dory Funk Jr.) & Terry Funk defeated Junk Yard Dog & Tito Santana.. May 3, 1986 - SNME: Hulk Hogan & Junk Yard Dog defeated The Funk Brothers (Dory Jr. & Terry Funk).. January 3, 1987 - Saturday Night's Main Event: Junk Yard Dog defeated "The King" Harley Race by DQ.. March 27, 1987 - WrestleMania III: Harley Race (w/Bobby Heenan & Fabulous Moolah) defeated Junk Yard Dog.. ~~~JYD was ordered to bow to the King, but instead he curtsied and then nailed the King with a chair! Junk Yard Dog formed a short-lived tag team with George "The Animal" Steele.. Summerslam 1988: "Ravishing" Rick Rude defeated Junk Yard Dog by DQ when Jake Roberts interfered.. August 1988: Junk Yard Dog left the World Wrestling Federation due to some personal problems.. National Wrestling Alliance - The Junk Yard Dog Junk Yard Dog resurfaced later in the National Wrestling Alliance.. Junk Yard Dog scored several non-title victories over NWA World champion Ric Flair.. June 13, 1990 - "Coastal Crunch" Clash of Champions: Junk Yard Dog defeated "Nature Boy Ric Flair by DQ.. Junk Yard Dog was fired by WCW management for no-showing a major live appearance and later a pay-per-view.. World Championship Wrestling - The Junk Yard Dog 1992: Bill Watts took over WCW and brought his old friend (Junk Yard Dog) back in for one last run.. Junk Yard Dog was put in a group called "Dudes With Attitudes" along with Sting, Lex Luger & Paul Orndorff.. Retirement - The Junk Yard Dog May 1998 - ECW Wrestlepalooza: JYD made an appearance along with Bob Armstrong, Dick Slater and Masked Superstar.. ~~~Junk Yard 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: Junk Yard Dog was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame during a ceremony in New York City! ~~~Junk Yard Dog's daughter (Latoya Ritter) was on hand to accept the honor in place of her famour father.. March 14, 2004 - WrestleMania XX: Junk Yard Dog was honored with all the other Hall of Fame inductees during the Pay Per View..