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Junkyard Dog: The greatest wrestler to never win the WWF Title

Junkyard Dog: The greatest wrestler to never win the WWF Title

Posted: Sep 25th 2006 By: mikeiles

I've been a wrestling fan for a while now, I've seen wrestlers come and go; guys like Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, and Bruno Sammartino have won titles, and then there are wrestlers who don't always win titles. These wrestlers aren't remembered for their greatness. Out of all these type of wrestlers, I think the wrestler that stands out the most is The Junkyard Dog.

The man known as JYD was born Sylvester Ritter on December 13, 1952. Before entering the world of professional wrestling, he played football at North Carolina's Fayetteville State University where he graduated in 1975. After graduating he spent time in the Green Bay Packers organization. However, his football career was over after having surgery on his knee and back. He then turned to wrestling.

Sylvester Ritter made his wrestling debut in Tennessee for promoter Jerry Jarrett. Eventually, he began wrestling as "Leroy Rochester" for promoter Nick Gulas. Eventually, Ritter left Tennessee to tour Germany. After touring Germany, he joined Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling, under the name "Big Daddy" Ritter. In 1980, Ritter headed for Mid-South Wrestling, where he was given the name The Junkyard Dog. There, he feuded with Jim Duggan, Butch Reed, Tully Blanchard & One Man Gang.

In 1984, Ritter signed with Vince McMahon Jr. to join the World Wrestling Federation. During his time in the WWF, he had some major and memorable matches. At Wrestlemania 1, he wrestled Greg "The Hammer" Valentine for the Intercontinental Championship. JYD won the match, however by count out, thus not winning the title. His biggest success came in late 1985 when he won The Wrestling Classic by defeating "Macho Man" Randy Savage in the finals of the tournament. He also wrestled quite a bit at Saturday Night's Main Event scoring some big wins and teaming with Hulk Hogan. At Wrestlemania II, JYD teamed with Tito Santana to face Terry and Dory Funk, who won the match when Terry Funk pinned JYD. At Wrestlemania III (his last Wrestlemania), he was defeated by "The King" Harley Race, and was forced to bow down to the king, but instead nailed Race with a chair, thus creating a "Wrestlemania Moment." He then formed a short lived tag team with George "The Animal" Steele. At Summerslam 1988 he was defeated by "Ravishing" Rick Rude when Jake "The Snake" Roberts interfered. In August 1988, Ritter left the WWF due to personal problems.

In early 1989, JYD put the boots back on to wrestle with the National Wrestling Alliance. There he scored several wins in non-title matches with then NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Ric Flair. In May 1989, Ritter was fired from the NWA after no showing for a major live appearance, and later a Pay-Per-View. He then left wrestling for while.

In 1992, Ritter once again put the boots back on for a short stint in World Championship Wrestling, where he was in a group called "Dudes with Attitudes" along with Sting, Lex Luger & Paul Orndorff. After his short stint in WCW, JYD retired from wrestling for good. In May 1998, JYD made his final appearance in the wrestling world at ECW Wrestlepalooza, where along with Bob Armstrong, Dick Slater and Masked Superstar, he was honored as a "Hardcore Legend" and received thunderous chants of "JYD".

On June 2, 1998, Sylvester Ritter was killed in a one car accident when he fell asleep at the wheel. He was killed about 11:40 a.m. on Interstate 20 near Forest, Mississippi. He was returning from his daughter's high school graduation in Wadesboro, N.C. He was 45 at the time of his death.

On March 13, 2004, The Junkyard Dog was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, by Ernie Ladd, with his daughter (Latoya Ritter) accepting the honor in place of her father.

In conclusion, there were many wrestlers who came and went, but of all of them, The Junkyard Dog stood out and made a huge impact with wrestling fans, including myself. Even though he didn't win any world titles, he still is a legend in the world of professional wrestling and deserves to be honored for his accomplishments. If he had won a world title, he would've been a great champion.

JYD...R.I.P.: 1952-1998.

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1947 Leroy McGuirk def. Buddy Rogers for the NWA Midwest World Title
  • 1958 Danny McShain def. Mad Man Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 1974 El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 1978 Rocky Johnson def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 2006 The Patriots (Bad Boy & Glen Steel) def. Aaron Neil & Alexander Lucas (Subbing for Se7en) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 2007 Al Farat became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 2013 Robert Lee became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Cub Scouts (Brock Landers & Grizzly Gates) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
  • 2018 Garrett Murphy def. Big Smooth for the NAW Heavyweight Title

Week of Sun 09-06 to Sat: 09-12

  • 09-06 2008 The New York Express (Thomas Knight & Jeff Knight) def. The Untouchables (J. D. Rebel & The Enforcer) for the SECW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-06 2008 Martin Justice became the SECW Cruiserweight Champion
  • 09-06 2014 Spanish Wolf (Nathan Estrada & Michael Wolf) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-06 2025 Butcher def. Riker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-06 2025 Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 09-06 2025 Phil Shark def. Franco D’Angelo for the TexPro Texas Title
  • 09-07 1979 Mark Lewin def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-07 1980 Terry Gibbs became the TSW Tri-State Champion
  • 09-07 1981 Frank Hill & Eric Embry def. Joel Deaton & David Deaton for the TSW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-07 2004 Kenzo Suzuki & Rene Dupree def. Paul London & Billy Kidman for the WWE Smackdown World Tag Team Titles
  • 09-07 2012 Brandon Walker def. Tim Rockwell for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-07 2014 Robert Lee def. Striker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-07 2018 Nikki Knight def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Title
  • 09-07 2019 Brian Dixon def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Oklahoma Title
  • 09-07 2019 Luke Langley def. Brandon Groom for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 09-07 2019 James Southard def. Lake Hefner for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 09-07 2024 The Subject (Cade Fite & Derek James) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 09-07 2024 Wrangler Rhett def. Alex Royal for the WFC Prime Title
  • 09-08 1947 Leroy McGuirk def. Buddy Rogers for the NWA Midwest World Title
  • 09-08 1958 Danny McShain def. Mad Man Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-08 1974 El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-08 1978 Rocky Johnson def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-08 2006 The Patriots (Bad Boy & Glen Steel) def. Aaron Neil & Alexander Lucas (Subbing for Se7en) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-08 2007 Al Farat became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-08 2013 Robert Lee became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 09-08 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Cub Scouts (Brock Landers & Grizzly Gates) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-08 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
  • 09-08 2018 Garrett Murphy def. Big Smooth for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 1970 Waldo Von Erich def. Jack Curtis for the TSW Mississippi Title
  • 09-09 1980 The Grappler def. Ted DiBiase for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2002 Papa Voodoo def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 09-09 2002 HIMM def. Papa Voodoo for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 09-09 2011 Michael Barry def. Dustin Heritage for the MWA MAX-Division Title
  • 09-09 2016 One Man Sam def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
  • 09-09 2017 Ray Martinez def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 09-09 2017 Tristan Thorne became the ASP 5-Star Champion
  • 09-09 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2017 Michael Duplanti def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
  • 09-09 2023 Johnny Lightning became the WFC Prime Champion
  • 09-09 2023 Tino Valentino def. Derek James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2023 Manico became the NAW Openweight Champion
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  • 09-09 2023 Martin Justice def. Thomas Knight for the XDWF New GenX Title
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  • 09-10 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart def. Fritz Von Erich & Grizzly Smith for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-10 1971 Ramon Torres def. Roger Kirby for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 09-10 1978 David Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 09-10 1979 Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
  • 09-10 2011 Drake Gallows became the BYEW Entertainment Champion
  • 09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Ray Martinez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Spyder for the SRPW United States Title
  • 09-10 2021 Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) def. Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-10 2022 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) def. Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
  • 09-10 2022 MLP def. Duncan Kincaid for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 09-10 2022 Nashoba def. Al Farat for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 09-11 1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-11 1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 09-11 1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 09-11 2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-11 2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-11 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
  • 09-11 2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
  • 09-11 2021 Revan became the RDW Iron Man Champion
  • 09-11 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 1982 King Kong Bundy & Bill Irwin def. The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 1983 Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart def. Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 2004 Chris Matthews def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-12 2009 Bobby Starr def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Entertainment Title
  • 09-12 2010 Xavior def. Kevin Morgan for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 09-12 2015 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 09-12 2015 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
  • 09-12 2015 Brad Michaels def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-12 2015 Richie Adams def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-12 2015 Shawn Hernandez became the DI2IW Intercontinenal Champion
  • 09-12 2015 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Impact, Inc. (Damon Windsor & Johnny Z) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Clover Botello for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-08
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  • Rebel [2nd] Sep 8th Today!
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  • Owen Sep 10th
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  • Kool Ade Sep 10th
  • Mr. Wrestling II Sep 10th
  • Trevor Murdoch I Sep 10th
  • Summer Thunder Sep 11th
  • Vic Nichols Sep 11th
  • N'Zane Lee Happy Sep 12th
  • Bash Sep 12th
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  • Danni Bee Sep 12th
  • Montego Seeka Sep 12th
  • Bob Kenaston Sep 12th
  • Animal Sep 12th
  • American Anarchy Sep 12th
  • Adrian Dell Sep 12th
  • K. P. Moore Sep 13th
  • Angelina Love Sep 13th
  • Poder Oriental Sep 13th
  • Danny Little Bear Sep 13th
  • Bobby Starr Sep 13th
  • Kelsie Mae Sep 14th
  • Lunatic Lennie Sep 14th
  • Waddy Young Sep 14th
  • Eddie LeVaughn Sep 14th
  • Bernie D Sep 14th
  • Korvin Sage Sep 15th
  • Daniel King Sep 15th
  • Spoiler 2000 Sep 15th
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  • Haru Sonada Sep 16th
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  • Rex Mori Sep 17th
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  • Dick Brower Sep 17th
  • Bill Irwin Sep 17th
  • Cisco Grimaldi Sep 18th
  • Angel Reed Sep 18th
  • Billy Robinson Sep 18th
  • Titan Yin Sep 18th
  • Mr. Nabors Sep 18th
  • Jerry Brisco Sep 19th
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  • Jack Brisco Sep 21st

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