6.10.2011

#51: Junkyard Dog

Real Name: Sylvester Ritter
Biggest Fan: Lucas Keyes "Robustness"

Sylvester Ritter, after his football career with the Green Bay Packers failed to pan out, began wrestling in smaller promotions such as Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling and Mid-South Wrestling (where he was given his Junkyard Dog moniker). While competing there, the JYD became one of MSW's most popular wrestlers, in spite of a less-than-stellar win-loss record. As his population grew, though, Junkyard Dog became more successful in the ring. He ended up being a four-time North American Heavyweight Champion, defeating Ted DiBiase to begin one reign and Butch Reed to begin another. He was also involved in a memorable feud with the Fabulous Freebirds who blinded him with hair cream, preventing a vision-impaired JYD from being able to see his newborn daughter. Like many of his feuds, this rivalry was put to rest only after JYD battled Michael "P.S." Hayes in a dog collar match.

Junkyard Dog departed for the World Wrestling Federation in 1984, where his popularity was put on display at a national level. At the first WrestleMania, JYD defeated the Intercontinental Champion, Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, by countout. Seven months later, at a pay-per-view called The Wrestling Classic, the WWF staged an enormous 16-man tournament. Junkyard Dog ended up winning the event, beating The Iron Sheik (a former WWF Champion), Moondog Spot and Randy Savage (a future WWF Champion) along the way.

Tragically, the Junkyard Dog perished in a single-car automobile accident in 1998 when he fell asleep at the wheel returning home from his daughter's graduation. JYD was posthumously inducted to the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004.

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