10 Years Today - Remembering the Junkyard Dog

Today marks the 10 Anniversary since the death of the Sylvester Ritter better known to wrestling fan as the Junkyard Dog. Ritter died tragically in a car accident on June 1, 1998 after attending his daughter's college graduation.

The JYD's career started in Tennessee where he was known as Leroy Rochester. He then moved to Canada wrestling for Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling to gain experience, he was known as Big Daddy Ritter, Ritter captured the North American Title.

Ritter returned to the US wrestling for Bill Watts' Mid-South Wrestling. Watts gave Ritter the gimmick the Junkyard Dog. The JYD became the most popular wrestler in the territory, his popularity gained him loyal and caring wrestling fans from both black and white ethnic groups which at the time was unheard of. The JYD became a pioneer as the first black wrestler in the south to be booked as the top draw of a wrestling organisation.

In 1984, the JYD jumped to the WWF where his already immense popularity multiplied in numbers. His genuine, affectionate personality help served the WWF well in their nationwide expansion. Just like in the south, the JYD drew wrestling fans of all races, and was at the forefront of the WWF helping to draw a strong African American audience.

The JYD wrestled for the WWF from 1984 to 1988 and he was one of the few people that the Dynamite Kid genuinely liked. He jumped to NWA/WCW in late 1988 as his popularity remained intact. He feuded with Ric Flair during 1990 scoring a number of non-title match victories over the then NWA World Champion.

The JYD made one of his last public appearances in 1998 at WrestlePalooza '98 where he was honoured alongside a few other legends.

WWE announcer Jim Ross was very fond of the JYD and has said to have loved him like a brother. Michael Hayes has said that JYD's genuine popularity was because he was real, a proud black man. The American Dream Dusty Rhodes has said to have learned and borrowed of the JYD"s natural charisma and mannerisms. In 2004, the Junkyard Dog was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.


RIP Sylvester "Junkyard Dog" Ritter

Great post, sounds like it came from the heart. I really enjoyed watching him growing up so its good to see other people still remember him.

RIP JYD.