Better known as the Junkyard Dog, Sylvester "Big
Daddy" Ritter spent a big part of his career in the Stampede area
and went on to become one of the biggest superstars in the WWF. Ritter
was also one of the first big black stars in the sport. He has toured all
over the world and was known for his "Big Thump" powerslam and headbutts.
Ritter died in a car accident in 1998.
Vital Statistics:
Real Name: Sylvester Ritter
Height:
Weight:
Hometown:
AKA: Big Daddy, The Junkyard Dog, Leroy Rochester.
Titles Held:
2 Time Stampede Heavyweight Champion
3 Time Mid South North American Champion
USWA Heavyweight Champion
WCW 6-Man Tag Team Champion
PWI Ranks:
Best PWI 500 Ranking: 112 (1992)
All Time PWI Ranking: 51
Chronology:
1977:
December: Leroy Rochester and Gypsy Joe win a tournament
to win the Mid-America Tag Team Titles.
1978:
January: Rochester and Joe lose the titles to Lanny
Poffo and Bobby Eaton.
December: Ritter wins the Stampede Heavyweight Championship
from Alo Leilani.
1979:
April: Ritter loses the title to Jake Roberts.
August: Ritter regains the title from Roberts, then
loses it later in the month to Larry
Lane.
1980:
December: JYD is named the Inspirational Wrestler
of the Year by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.
March: JYD beats Ernie Ladd for the Louisiana Heavyweight
Title.
April: JYD and Buck Robley beat the Freebirds for
the Mid-South Tag Team Titles.
May: JYD loses the Louisiana Title to Terry Gordy.
June: JYD and Robley lose the titles to the Freebirds.
JYD beats Gordy for the Lousiana Title, and beats
Bull Ramos for the Mississippi Heavyweight Title. He vacates both titles
later in the month due to injury.
September: JYD and Terry Orndorff beat the Freebirds
for the Mid-South Tag Titles.
November: JYD and Orndorff lose the titles to Ernie
Ladd and Leroy Brown.
1981:
January: JYD and Karl Kox beat Ladd and Brown for
the Mid-South titles.
February: JYD and Kox lose the titles to Ladd and
Brown.
March: JYD and Dick Murdock beat Ladd and Brown
for the titles, they vacate them the same day due to a contraversy with
the referree.
April: JYD and Murdock regain the Mid-South Titles
from The Grappler and the Super Destroyer.
June: JYD and Murdock lose the titles to the Samoans.
July: JYD and Murdock regain the titles from the
Samoans, but lose them to the Samoans later in the month.
October: JYD and Mike George win the Titles from
the Samoans.
December: JYD beats the Great Kabuki for the Louisiana
Heavyweight Title.
1982:
January: JYD and George lose the Mid-South Titles
to the Samoans.
June: The Dog wins the Mid South North American
title from Bob Roop. He loses the title two days
later to Ted DiBiase.
JYD and Mr. Olympia win the Mid-South Tag Team Titles
from The Samoans.
1983:
April: The Dog beats Mr. Olympia in a tournament
final for the Mid South title.
July: The Dog loses the title to Butch Reed.
October: The Dog regains the title from Butch Reed.
1984:
March: The Dog drops the Mid South title to Mr.
Wrestling II.
May: JYD beats The Missing Link at the First Annual
David von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions
in Texas.
1985:
March: JYD beats Greg "The Hammer" Valentine at
the first Wrestlemania.
November: JYD competes in the very first wrestling
PPV, the WWF's Wrestling Classic, winning
a tournament, first beating the Iron Sheik, then Moondog Spot, then
Randy Savage by count
out in the final.
1986:
April: JYD and Tito Santana lose to Dory and Terry
Funk at Wrestlemania 2.
1987:
March: JYD loses to Harley Race at Wrestlemania
3.
1988:
March: JYD competes in a battle royal at Wrestlemania
4.
Summer: JYD jumps to WCW
December: JYD teams with Ivan Koloff losing to the
Russian Assassins at Starrcade.
1989:
February: JYD competes in a 6-man tag match at Clash
of the Champions 5.
1990:
June: JYD beats Ric Flair by disqualification at
Clash of the Champions 11.
October: JYD pins Moondog Rex at Hallowe'en Havoc.
1991:
February: JYD, Tommy Rich and Ricky Morton win the
WCW 6-Man Tag Team Titles from Dutch Mantell, Buddy Landell and Dr. X.
May: JYD, Rich and Morton lose the 6-Man belts to
Micheal Hayes, Jimmy Garvin and Badstreet.
July: JYD pins Black Bart at The Great American
Bash.
1992:
Summer: JYD begins teaming with Curtis Hughes. He
leaves WCW soon afterwards.
September: The Dog beats Eddie Gilbert for the USWA
Heavyweight Title.
October: The Dog loses the USWA title to Butch Reed.