Sylvester Ritter

Acting

Born December 13, 1952 · Wadesboro, North Carolina, USA

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.

Films (63)

Biography: Wrestlemania I

2022

Andre the Giant

2018

Legends of Mid-South Wrestling

2013

The True Story of WrestleMania

2011

WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time

2010

WWE: Legends of Wrestling - Jerry the King Lawler and Junkyard Dog

2010

WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event

2009

Giants, Midgets, Heroes and Villains II

2008

Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1

2007

WWE: The Ladder Match

2007

Heroes of World Class

2006

WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology

2006

The Greatest Stars of the 80's

2005

WWE Hall of Fame 2004

2004

ECW Wrestlepalooza 1998

1998

The Life And Times of Paul Boesch

1994

WCW WrestleWar 1991

1991

WCW Halloween Havoc 1990

1990

WCW The Great American Bash 1990

1990

NWA Clash of the Champions XI: Coastal Crush

1990

NWA Clash of The Champions VI: Ragin' Cajun

1989

NWA Clash of The Champions V: St. Valentine's Massacre

1989

NWA Starrcade 1988

1988

NWA Clash of The Champions IV: Season's Beatings

1988

WWE U.K. Rampage 1988

1988

WWE SummerSlam 1988

1988

Hulkamania 3

1988

The Best of the WWF: volume 16 Around the World

1988

WWE WrestleMania IV

1988

WWE Royal Rumble 1988

1988

The Best of the WWF: volume 14

1987

George "The Animal" Steele

1987

Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments

1987

WWE Houston Wrestling: December '87

1987

WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '87

1987

WWE Houston Wrestling: The Paul Boesch Retirement Show

1987

Jake "The Snake" Roberts

1987

The Best of the WWF: volume 11

1987

WWE WrestleMania III

1987

The Best of the WWF: volume 10

1987

The WWF's Even More Unusual Matches

1987

WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: January '87

1987

Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports

1987

WWE Houston Wrestling: November '86

1986

The Best of the WWF: volume 9

1986

WWE The Big Event

1986

The Best of the WWF: volume 8

1986

WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: May '86

1986

WrestleMania II

1986

WWE Grudge Match

1986

WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: March '86

1986

The WWF's Amazing Managers

1985

The Wrestling Classic

1985

WrestleMania

1985

Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports

1985

Most Unusual Matches

1985

Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!

1985

WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: December '84

1984

WWE St. Louis Wrestling: September '84

1984

NWA Lords of The Ring

1984

WCCW Parade of Champions

1984

NWA Boogie Jam

1984

WCCW Thanksgiving Star Wars '83

1983