Sylvester Ritter
Known for Acting · 75 credits
- Born
- 1952-12-13
- Died
- 1998-06-02
- Place of birth
- Wadesboro, North Carolina, USA
- Also known as
- Junkyard Dog · The Junkyard Dog · Big Daddy Ritter · JYD
Biography
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
WWF Superstars
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
WWF Wrestling Challenge
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
1985
as Junkyard Dog
WWE Pay Per View
1985
World Class Championship Wrestling
1982
as Junkyard Dog
Mid-South Wrestling
1981
as Junkyard Dog (Archive footage) / Stagger Lee / Junkyard Dog (Special Referee)
TV Shows (12)
WWF Superstars
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
WWF Wrestling Challenge
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
1985
as Junkyard Dog
WWE Pay Per View
1985
World Class Championship Wrestling
1982
as Junkyard Dog
Mid-South Wrestling
1981
as Junkyard Dog (Archive footage) / Stagger Lee / Junkyard Dog (Special Referee)
Dark Side of the Ring
2019
as Self (Archival Footage)
WWE Old School
1973
as Junkyard Dog / The Junkyard Dog
Clash of the Champions
1988
as The Junkyard Dog (Appearance)
NWA World Championship Wrestling
1985
as Junkyard Dog
Tuesday Night Titans
1984
as The Junkyard Dog
WCW Arena Shows
1983
as The Junkyard Dog
Movies (63)
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
2006
as Junkyard Dog
WrestleMania II
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE WrestleMania III
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
2010
as Junkyard Dog
Andre the Giant
2018
as Self (archive footage)
The True Story of WrestleMania
2011
as Junkyard Dog
WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event
2009
as Junkyard Dog
WrestleMania
1985
as The Junkyard Dog
The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s
2005
as Junkyard Dog (Archive Footage)
WWE: The Ladder Match
2007
as Big Daddy Ritter
WWE SummerSlam 1988
1988
as The Junkyard Dog
NWA Clash of The Champions V: St. Valentine's Massacre
1989
as The Junkyard Dog
Most Unusual Matches
1985
as The Junkyard Dog
Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports
1985
as The Junkyard Dog (archive footage)
Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
2013
as Junkyard Dog / Stagger Lee
NWA Clash of the Champions XI: Coastal Crush
1990
as The Junkyard Dog
The Wrestling Classic
1985
as The Junkyard Dog
Giants, Midgets, Heroes and Villains II
2008
as The Junkyard Dog
The Best of the WWF: volume 8
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
The Best of the WWF: volume 16 Around the World
1988
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE WrestleMania IV
1988
as The Junkyard Dog
WCW WrestleWar 1991
1991
as The Junkyard Dog
Hulkamania 3
1988
as The Junkyard Dog
WCW The Great American Bash 1990
1990
as The Junkyard Dog
George "The Animal" Steele
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments
1987
as Junkyard Dog
WWE Royal Rumble 1988
1988
as The Junkyard Dog
Biography: Wrestlemania I
2022
as Self (archival footage) - The Junkyard Dog
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: March '86
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
Heroes of World Class
2006
as Junkyard Dog
Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1
2007
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: January '87
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE Hall of Fame 2004
2004
as Self
WCCW Parade of Champions
1984
as The Junkyard Dog
The WWF's Amazing Managers
1985
as The Junkyard Dog
Jake "The Snake" Roberts
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
WCCW Thanksgiving Star Wars '83
1983
as The Junkyard Dog
The Best of the WWF: volume 11
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
The Best of the WWF: volume 9
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE St. Louis Wrestling: September '84
1984
as The Junkyard Dog
The WWF's Even More Unusual Matches
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!
1985
as Junkyard Dog
WWE The Big Event
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE Houston Wrestling: The Paul Boesch Retirement Show
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: May '86
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
NWA Starrcade 1988
1988
as The Junkyard Dog
The Best of the WWF: volume 14
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
WCW Halloween Havoc 1990
1990
as Junkyard Dog
ECW Wrestlepalooza 1998
1998
as Junkyard Dog (Honoree)
The Life And Times of Paul Boesch
1994
as Junkyard Dog (archive footage)
WWE Grudge Match
1986
as Junkyard Dog
WWE U.K. Rampage 1988
1988
as The Junkyard Dog
NWA Boogie Jam
1984
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE Houston Wrestling: December '87
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
The Best of the WWF: volume 10
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
NWA Clash of The Champions IV: Season's Beatings
1988
as The Junkyard Dog (Appearance)
WWE Houston Wrestling: November '86
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
NWA Clash of The Champions VI: Ragin' Cajun
1989
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '87
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
NWA Lords of The Ring
1984
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: December '84
1984
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE: Legends of Wrestling - Jerry the King Lawler and Junkyard Dog
2010
About Sylvester Ritter
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 to… With 75 credits spanning from 1973 to 2022, Sylvester Ritter has appeared in 63 films and 12 TV shows.
Fans searching for Sylvester Ritter movies, Sylvester Ritter filmography, or the latest projects starring Sylvester Ritter can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Sylvester Ritter Movies
- WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology (2006) — as Junkyard Dog
- WrestleMania II (1986) — as The Junkyard Dog
- WWE WrestleMania III (1987) — as The Junkyard Dog
- WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time (2010) — as Junkyard Dog
- Andre the Giant (2018) — as Self (archive footage)
Where to Watch Sylvester Ritter Films
Most Sylvester Ritter movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Sylvester Ritter, check our movies catalogue and browse page.