Acting · Wadesboro, North Carolina, USA · Born December 13, 1952
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.
MovieBiography: Wrestlemania I
2022
as Self (archival footage) - The Junkyard Dog
TVDark Side of the Ring
2019
as Self (Archival Footage)
MovieAndre the Giant
2018
as Self (archive footage)
MovieLegends of Mid-South Wrestling
2013
as Junkyard Dog / Stagger Lee
MovieThe True Story of WrestleMania
2011
as Junkyard Dog
MovieWWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
2010
as Junkyard Dog
MovieWWE: Legends of Wrestling - Jerry the King Lawler and Junkyard Dog
2010
MovieWWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event
2009
as Junkyard Dog
MovieGiants, Midgets, Heroes and Villains II
2008
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieMid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1
2007
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieWWE: The Ladder Match
2007
as Big Daddy Ritter
MovieHeroes of World Class
2006
as Junkyard Dog
MovieWWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
2006
as Junkyard Dog
MovieThe Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s
2005
as Junkyard Dog (Archive Footage)
MovieWWE Hall of Fame 2004
2004
as Self
MovieECW Wrestlepalooza 1998
1998
as Junkyard Dog (Honoree)
MovieThe Life And Times of Paul Boesch
1994
as Junkyard Dog (archive footage)
MovieWCW WrestleWar 1991
1991
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieWCW Halloween Havoc 1990
1990
as Junkyard Dog
MovieWCW The Great American Bash 1990
1990
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieNWA Clash of the Champions XI: Coastal Crush
1990
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieNWA Clash of The Champions VI: Ragin' Cajun
1989
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieNWA Clash of The Champions V: St. Valentine's Massacre
1989
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieNWA Starrcade 1988
1988
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieNWA Clash of The Champions IV: Season's Beatings
1988
as The Junkyard Dog (Appearance)
WWE U.K. Rampage 1988
1988
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieWWE SummerSlam 1988
1988
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieHulkamania 3
1988
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieThe Best of the WWF: volume 16 Around the World
1988
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieWWE WrestleMania IV
1988
as The Junkyard Dog
TVClash of the Champions
1988
as The Junkyard Dog (Appearance)
MovieWWE Royal Rumble 1988
1988
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieThe Best of the WWF: volume 14
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieGeorge "The Animal" Steele
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieWrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments
1987
as Junkyard Dog
WWE Houston Wrestling: December '87
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '87
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE Houston Wrestling: The Paul Boesch Retirement Show
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieJake "The Snake" Roberts
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieThe Best of the WWF: volume 11
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieWWE WrestleMania III
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieThe Best of the WWF: volume 10
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieThe WWF's Even More Unusual Matches
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: January '87
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieBob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports
1987
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE Houston Wrestling: November '86
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieThe Best of the WWF: volume 9
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
TVWWF Wrestling Challenge
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
TVWWF Superstars
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieWWE The Big Event
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieThe Best of the WWF: volume 8
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: May '86
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieWrestleMania II
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieWWE Grudge Match
1986
as Junkyard Dog
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: March '86
1986
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieThe WWF's Amazing Managers
1985
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieThe Wrestling Classic
1985
as The Junkyard Dog
TVNWA World Championship Wrestling
1985
as Junkyard Dog
TVWWE Saturday Night's Main Event
1985
as Junkyard Dog
MovieWrestleMania
1985
as The Junkyard Dog
TVWWE Pay Per View
1985
MovieBob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports
1985
as The Junkyard Dog (archive footage)
MovieMost Unusual Matches
1985
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieWrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!
1985
as Junkyard Dog
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: December '84
1984
as The Junkyard Dog
WWE St. Louis Wrestling: September '84
1984
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieNWA Lords of The Ring
1984
as The Junkyard Dog
TVTuesday Night Titans
1984
as The Junkyard Dog
WCCW Parade of Champions
1984
as The Junkyard Dog
MovieNWA Boogie Jam
1984
as The Junkyard Dog
WCCW Thanksgiving Star Wars '83
1983
as The Junkyard Dog
TVWCW Arena Shows
1983
as The Junkyard Dog
TVWorld Class Championship Wrestling
1982
as Junkyard Dog
TVMid-South Wrestling
1981
as Junkyard Dog (Archive footage)
TVWWE Old School
1973
as Junkyard Dog
