Sylvester Ritter

Acting
Born 1952-12-13 - Died 1998-06-02Wadesboro, North Carolina, USA

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.

Movies (63)

Andre the Giant
7.3

Andre the Giant

2018Movie7.3
Most Unusual Matches
9.0

Most Unusual Matches

1985Movie9.0
WrestleMania
6.7

WrestleMania

1985Movie6.7
The True Story of WrestleMania
8.2

The True Story of WrestleMania

2011Movie8.2
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: May '86

WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: May '86

1986Movie
WWE SummerSlam 1988
7.3

WWE SummerSlam 1988

1988Movie7.3
WCCW Thanksgiving Star Wars '83
9.5

WCCW Thanksgiving Star Wars '83

1983Movie9.5
Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
9.3

Legends of Mid-South Wrestling

2013Movie9.3
Hulkamania 3

Hulkamania 3

1988Movie
WWE The Big Event
8.0

WWE The Big Event

1986Movie8.0
WWE WrestleMania IV
7.2

WWE WrestleMania IV

1988Movie7.2
WrestleMania II
6.4

WrestleMania II

1986Movie6.4
WWE WrestleMania III
7.4

WWE WrestleMania III

1987Movie7.4
Biography: Wrestlemania I
6.0

Biography: Wrestlemania I

2022Movie6.0
The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s
7.8

The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s

2005Movie7.8
NWA Starrcade 1988
7.0

NWA Starrcade 1988

1988Movie7.0
WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event
7.5

WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event

2009Movie7.5
WCW Halloween Havoc 1990
6.0

WCW Halloween Havoc 1990

1990Movie6.0
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
7.9

WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology

2006Movie7.9
The WWF's Amazing Managers

The WWF's Amazing Managers

1985Movie
WWE: The Ladder Match
8.3

WWE: The Ladder Match

2007Movie8.3
ECW Wrestlepalooza 1998
7.0

ECW Wrestlepalooza 1998

1998Movie7.0
WWE Royal Rumble 1988
6.6

WWE Royal Rumble 1988

1988Movie6.6
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
8.3

WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time

2010Movie8.3
Jake "The Snake" Roberts

Jake "The Snake" Roberts

1987Movie
Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!
6.0

Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!

1985Movie6.0
The Best of the WWF: volume 14

The Best of the WWF: volume 14

1987Movie
The Wrestling Classic
6.2

The Wrestling Classic

1985Movie6.2
George "The Animal" Steele

George "The Animal" Steele

1987Movie
WWE Houston Wrestling: December '87

WWE Houston Wrestling: December '87

1987Movie
Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports

Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports

1987Movie
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: March '86

WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: March '86

1986Movie
The Life And Times of Paul Boesch
10.0

The Life And Times of Paul Boesch

1994Movie10.0
WWE Grudge Match

WWE Grudge Match

1986Movie
WCW WrestleWar 1991
8.0

WCW WrestleWar 1991

1991Movie8.0
WCW The Great American Bash 1990
7.7

WCW The Great American Bash 1990

1990Movie7.7
The Best of the WWF: volume 8

The Best of the WWF: volume 8

1986Movie
Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1

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

2007Movie
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '87

WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '87

1987Movie
NWA Boogie Jam

NWA Boogie Jam

1984Movie
Giants, Midgets, Heroes and Villains II

Giants, Midgets, Heroes and Villains II

2008Movie
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: January '87

WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: January '87

1987Movie
NWA Clash of The Champions IV: Season's Beatings

NWA Clash of The Champions IV: Season's Beatings

1988Movie
WWE Hall of Fame 2004
8.3

WWE Hall of Fame 2004

2004Movie8.3
The Best of the WWF: volume 10

The Best of the WWF: volume 10

1987Movie
Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments
10.0

Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments

1987Movie10.0
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: December '84

WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: December '84

1984Movie
NWA Clash of the Champions XI: Coastal Crush

NWA Clash of the Champions XI: Coastal Crush

1990Movie
The Best of the WWF: volume 9

The Best of the WWF: volume 9

1986Movie
WWE U.K. Rampage 1988

WWE U.K. Rampage 1988

1988Movie
WWE Houston Wrestling: The Paul Boesch Retirement Show

WWE Houston Wrestling: The Paul Boesch Retirement Show

1987Movie
Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports

Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports

1985Movie
The WWF's Even More Unusual Matches

The WWF's Even More Unusual Matches

1987Movie
The Best of the WWF: volume 16 Around the World

The Best of the WWF: volume 16 Around the World

1988Movie
NWA Clash of The Champions V: St. Valentine's Massacre
4.0

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

1989Movie4.0
WWE Houston Wrestling: November '86

WWE Houston Wrestling: November '86

1986Movie
Heroes of World Class
8.5

Heroes of World Class

2006Movie8.5
The Best of the WWF: volume 11

The Best of the WWF: volume 11

1987Movie
NWA Clash of The Champions VI: Ragin' Cajun

NWA Clash of The Champions VI: Ragin' Cajun

1989Movie
NWA Lords of The Ring

NWA Lords of The Ring

1984Movie
WCCW Parade of Champions

WCCW Parade of Champions

1984Movie
WWE St. Louis Wrestling: September '84

WWE St. Louis Wrestling: September '84

1984Movie
WWE: Legends of Wrestling - Jerry the King Lawler and Junkyard Dog

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

2010Movie

TV Shows (11)

WWF Superstars
7.2

WWF Superstars

1986Series7.2
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
8.3

WWE Saturday Night's Main Event

1985Series8.3
WWF Wrestling Challenge
6.8

WWF Wrestling Challenge

1986Series6.8
Mid-South Wrestling

Mid-South Wrestling

1981Series
World Class Championship Wrestling

World Class Championship Wrestling

1982Series
NWA World Championship Wrestling

NWA World Championship Wrestling

1985Series
Dark Side of the Ring
8.3

Dark Side of the Ring

2019Series8.3
Clash of the Champions

Clash of the Champions

1988Series
WWE Old School

WWE Old School

1973Series
Tuesday Night Titans
9.0

Tuesday Night Titans

1984Series9.0
WCW Arena Shows

WCW Arena Shows

1983Series