The Junkyard Dog.
 

                                            BIO.
Sylvester Ritter, better known as The Junkyard Dog, began his professional wrestling career at the turn of the eighties, competing with promotions such as the NWA, Fritz Von Erich's World Class Championship Wrestling and Mid-South, snaring dozens of world titles in the process.
At that time, Mid-South was a hotbed for up-and-coming talent, and JYD was often pitted against the likes of Ted DiBiase, Tully Blanchard, the One Man Gang and Butch Reed.
On the NWA circuit, he often grappled with the likes of Greg Valentine, Mr. Wrestling II and Bobby Eaton, and also gained a tremendous fan following for his devastating headset, which literally knocked opponents cold.
In 1984, just prior to entering the Federation, Junkyard competed at the David Von Erich Memorial "Parade of Champions" at Texas Stadium, beating the Missing Link by DQ.
On the World Wrestling Federation's first ever pay-per-view, the 1985 "Wrestling Classic" tournament he defeated the Iron Sheik and Moondog Spot before being narrowly eliminated by Randy Savage in the finals.
With less than a year in the WWF, the Dog had already become one of the top attractions in the industry and appeared religiously on subsequent Pay-Per-Views and special events.
In 1985,1986 and 1987, Ritter took part in the annual-and-then untelevisied-King of the Ring tournaments, taking on such superstars as Don Muraco, Paul Orndorff and Nikaolai Volkoff. He was also a frequent competitor on NBC's "Saturday Night's Main Event", as he faced such notables as Harley Race, the late Adrian Adonis and current superstar, Terry Funk.
Over the course of his Federation career, the Junkyard Dog also took part in the Wrestlemania spectaculars, as he beat then-Intercontinental Champion Greg Valentine by countout at the first, and teamed with Tito Santana to take on Terry and Dory Funk Jr. at Wrestlemania two.
In 1987, JYD entered into a bitter feud with "King" Harley Race, and nearly won the cape and crown from his foe at Wrestlemania III. Then, at Wrestlemania IV, as he joined Bret Hart and Bad News Brown as the remaining trio in a twenty-man over the top battle royal before being eliminated by his opponents.
Following that Pay-Per-View, JYD engaged in feuds with "Outlaw" Ron Bass and Dino Bravo before stepping away from the WWF to pursue other goals, which included a stint in World Championship Wrestling in the early nineties.
He also promoted bouts in North Carolina and Louisiana, as well as competed in hundreds of independent wrestling events across the country.
 
 
 

                                                     HIS DEATH.
Sadly, this superstar's life came to a tragic end this past June 2, as a result of a single vehicle accident en route to his home in North Carolina. JYD was returning from his daughter's graduation in Mississippi when he crashed his car on nearby 1-20.
He was forty-five-years-old.
 
 
 

                                                              MEMORIES.