Sylvester Ritter, the man who would become renowned as the Junk Yard Dog, was born on December 13, 1953, in the charming town of Wadesboro, North Carolina. Prior to embarking on his illustrious wrestling career, Ritter excelled in both football and wrestling during his high school days.
After graduating from Fayetteville State University in 1975, Ritter was drafted by the Houston Oilers, but his promising football career was tragically cut short due to a knee injury. He subsequently tried out for the Green Bay Packers, only to find himself holding a series of odd jobs before eventually discovering his true calling in the world of professional wrestling.
Ritter's wrestling journey began in 1977 with the International Wrestling Association (IWA),where he honed his skills and developed a reputation as a formidable grappler. His subsequent stints in Memphis, Germany, and Calgary, where he worked under the tutelage of the legendary Stu Hart, further solidified his status as a rising star in the world of professional wrestling.
During his time in Calgary, Ritter had the opportunity to square off against some of the most iconic figures in the sport, including Bret Hart, Jake Roberts, and Tommy Billington. It was during this period that he also began to develop his signature persona, which would eventually become synonymous with the Junk Yard Dog moniker.
Ritter's journey eventually took him to Louisiana, where he began working for the esteemed Bill Watts, who would go on to bestow upon him the nickname Junk Yard Dog. It was during this time that Ritter was involved in a now-famous angle with Michael Hayes, in which it was alleged that Hayes had blinded him, a storyline so convincing that it even prompted a fan to pull a gun on Hayes during a match.
In addition to his work with Hayes, Ritter also had the opportunity to team up with wrestling legends such as Paul Orndorff and Ted DiBiase. Despite his many accomplishments, Ritter's personal life was marked by turmoil, including a divorce that led him down a path of heavy cocaine use.
As his drawing power began to wane in New Orleans, the Junk Yard Dog was eventually scooped up by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF),led by the visionary Vince McMahon. Ritter's time in the WWF was marked by a memorable match against Harley Race at WrestleMania III, which drew a significant crowd. However, his growing weight issues ultimately led to his release from the organization.
Ritter's post-WWF career was marked by brief stints in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW),during which he was largely regarded as a has-been. Tragically, Ritter's life came to a sudden and untimely end on June 2, 1998, when he was involved in a fatal car accident at the age of 45.
