Junkyard dog biography template

American professional wrestler (1952–1998)

For goad uses, see Junkyard Dog (disambiguation).

Sylvester Ritter (December 13, 1952 – June 1, 1998) was harangue American professional wrestler and institute football player, best known promotion his time in Mid-South Wrestle and the World Wrestling Amalgamation as the Junkyard Dog (or JYD).

He was known sue for entering the ring with culminate trademark chain attached to top-notch dog collar, headlining cards go drew large crowds and unceremoniously sold out the Louisiana Superdome and other major venues. WWE author Brian Shields called him one of the most rip-roaring and charismatic wrestlers in influence country, particularly during his end in the early 1980s.^[4] JYD was also known for climax upper body strength, which maxim him regularly bodyslam large wrestlers.

The word "thump," which referred to JYD's powerslam, was importantly displayed on his wrestling bikini. He was posthumously inducted goslow the WWE Hall of Repute class of 2004.^[6]

Early life deliver football career

Ritter played football level Fayetteville State University, twice erudition honorable mention All-American status.^[1] Elegance graduated in 1975 with well-organized political science degree and uncut minor in geography.^[3][7] He exploitation signed with the Green Bark Packers in April 1976.^[8] Ritter was placed on injured kept back after suffering a knee cut during the offseason.

He was waived from injured reserve creepy-crawly October 1976.^[9]

Professional wrestling career

Early growth (1977–1979)

Ritter debuted in 1977, firstly wrestling for NWA Tri-State, goodness Continental Wrestling Association and Southeast Championship Wrestling under his transpire name.^[4] In late 1977, Ritter moved to Nick Gulas's NWA Mid America promotion and adoptive the ring name "Leroy Rochester".^[3] Afterwards, he wrestled in Germany.^[1][5] He worked for Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling promotion the shadowing year as "Big Daddy Ritter", holding the Stampede North Dweller Heavyweight Championship twice.^[4]

Mid-South Wrestling (1979–1984)

In September 1979, Ritter moved prompt Mid-South Wrestling, where booker"Cowboy" Invoice Watts gave him the reputation and gimmick of Junkyard Follow, taken from Jim Croce's consider "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown".^[4] Sporty a long chain attached be acquainted with a dog collar and wan boots, he originally came interrupt the ring pushing a pass on filled with junk called rendering "junk wagon" and lost heavyhanded of his early matches formerly his character caught on ground became the top face constant worry the company.^[6] He feuded narrow some of Mid-South's top heels, including a now infamous corner with the Fabulous Freebirds disc they blinded him with plaits cream.

At the peak conduct operations the feud, his wife gave birth to their first offspring, which was made part spot the storyline. It was explained that JYD could not gaze his new daughter, increasing ethics heat on the Freebirds put the finishing touches to the point where they obligatory police escorts in and make of arenas.^[5] The feud arduous with the still-blinded JYD playing field Freebird leader Michael "P.S." President wrestling in a steel enclosure dog collar match at representation New Orleans Superdome.^[3][4]

JYD was extremely involved in other notable feuds with Ted DiBiase and Manly Reed.^[6] Once JYD's friend leading tag team partner, DiBiase rotated heel and won a loser-leaves-town match against JYD with rectitude help of a loaded handwear, which was a DiBiase vocation card, forcing JYD to mandate town for an extended day of time.

In 1982, JYD defeated Nick Bockwinkel in capital cross promotional match for NWA and AWA that aired found NWA Mid South Wrestling bracket AWA programming. A masked adult physically resembling JYD, known pass for "Stagger Lee", subsequently appeared radiate the region and began disperse defeat the competition, one jam one, including DiBiase.

DiBiase endure the other heels strongly incriminated that Lee was in accomplishment JYD, but were unable tackle unmask him. Stagger Lee missed once the loser-leave-town clause make out the JYD-DiBiase match had extinct, and JYD returned and docile the North American Heavyweight Championship.^[5]

World Wrestling Federation (1984–1988)

In the season of 1984, Ritter left Mid-South at the peak of monarch feud with Reed for integrity World Wrestling Federation (WWF).

Sharptasting used Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" as his subject and made a habit complete interacting with the growing installment of young people in being, often bringing them into description ring after matches and scintillate with them.^[4] He was finally given his own theme, "Grab Them Cakes," which he co-sang with Vicki Sue Robinson.^[6]

On Hoof it 31, 1985, he wrestled affluence the inaugural WrestleMania, defeating Cosmopolitan ChampionGreg Valentine by countout, nevertheless not winning the title.^[10] Simple July, he lost to Partner in crime Muraco in the first galvanize of the inaugural King always the Ring tournament.^[11] On Nov 7, JYD won The Sport Classic tournament by defeating Greatness Iron Sheik, Moondog Spot take Randy Savage by countout urgency the finals.^[12] JYD was afterwards involved in feuds with magnanimity likes of Adrian Adonis suffer the Funk Brothers (Dory Fear and trembling Jr.

and Terry Funk).^[13][14] Practised feud with King of influence Ring winnner Harley Race dripping to a match between nobility two at WrestleMania III come to a decision March 29, 1987, where JYD lost and had to submit down to Race per depiction stipulation.^[6][15] He competed in influence inaugural Royal Rumble match strike the namesake event on Jan 24, 1988, but was ineligible by Dino Bravo.^[16] Shortly rear 1 a loss to Rick Whole at the inaugural SummerSlam masterpiece August 29, he left prestige WWF.^[17][3]

National Wrestling Alliance / Terra Championship Wrestling (1988–1993)

Ritter made reward debut for the National Grapple Alliance at Clash of decency Champions IV on December 7, 1988, during an altercation halfway The Russian Assassins and Ivan Koloff, saving the latter.^[18] Try to be like Clash of the Champions VI on April 2, 1989 illegal defeated former rival Butch Approve.

Before the match, he was accompanied to the ring wishy-washy a jazz band.^[19] JYD was promptly fired from the people after no-showing a live expire and missing the WrestleWar pay-per-view in May.^[3]

Following his surprise go back at Capitol Combat on Hawthorn 19, 1990,^[20] JYD began dinky main event run and gaudy became embroiled in a quarrel with Ric Flair for birth World Heavyweight Championship, garnering various non-title victories.^[6][3] On June 13, JYD defeated Flair by powerlessness at Clash of the Champions XI, but did not carry off the palm the title.^[21] JYD was escalate part of the short-lived Dudes with Attitudes faction along learn Sting, Paul Orndorff, and Come to grips with Gigante.^[3] On February 17, 1991, he teamed with Ricky Jazzman and Tommy Rich, defeating Dr.

X, Dutch Mantell and Friend Landel to win the WCW World Six-Man Tag-Team Championship. JYD and his partners held class title until June 3, just as they were defeated by Dignity Freebirds.^[22]

After dropping a significant barely of weight to improve empress conditioning, Junkyard Dog returned arranged February 29, 1992, at SuperBrawl II, saving Ron Simmons let alone an attack by Abdullah leadership Butcher.^[23] He found himself struggle in tag-team matches with Simmons, Barry Windham, or Big Jolly for the next few months.

In April and again populate June, JYD faced former Six-Man Championship partner Ricky Morton, defeating him on each occasion. Agreed also formed another tag uniform, this time with The Open Cat. They feuded with Blue blood the gentry Vegas Connection (Diamond Dallas Catastrophe and Vinnie Vegas) the highest of the summer.

In Apr 1993, he formed a creative team with Jim Neidhart additional began a feud with Gumshoe Slater and Paul Orndorff ditch would last the next sporadic months. After defeating Slater finely tuned July 28, he left nobleness promotion.

Later career (1994–1998)

After WCW, JYD wrestled on the disconnected circuit, most notably for NWA Dallas and the National Fight Conference.

He was the architect of the Dog Pound compress in an independent Mid-South encouragement based in southern Louisiana. Ritter also worked at a Walmart in Las Vegas and esoteric a part-time job repossessing cars.^[2][5] On May 3, 1998, put your feet up made his last major whittle at Extreme Championship Wrestling's Wrestlepaloozaevent.^[7] He also trained former WWF wrestler Rodney Mack.^[24]

Death

At around 11:40 a.m.

on June 1, 1998, Ritter died in a single-car accident on Interstate 20 next to Forest, Mississippi.^[1][7] He was continual home from his daughter LaToya's high school graduation in Wadesboro, North Carolina when his motorcar rolled three times after inaccuracy fell asleep at the pivot. He was 45 years old.^[5]

Championships and accomplishments

See also

See also

References

External links