On a recent edition of his “Something To Wrestle” podcast, WWE executive Bruce Prichard discussed the career and legacy of Junkyard Dog (Sylvester Ritter) and explained what made the late WWE Hall of Famer one of the best workers in the wrestling industry.
Junkyard Dog was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2004.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On how the Junkyard Dog was unique: “JYD was different, JYD was unique. He had charisma. You can’t teach charisma. And the Dog had charisma walking out of the locker room, and would own that audience as soon as he burst through those doors.” While JYD is renowned as a wrestling legend today, he has often been seen as an inferior worker to some of his contemporaries. Prichard acknowledged that JYD wouldn’t ever be seen as an all-time great in-ring talent, but ultimately believes that JYD was a great worker for an entirely different reason.”
On how JYD was great as a worker: “You want to talk about great workers … or talk about great wrestlers, Junkyard Dog wasn’t a great wrestler, by any stretch of the imagination. There’s not a human alive who would say ‘Oh, JYD was the best wrestler.’ He was the drizzling s***s. Best worker? JYD couldn’t be touched, because he knew what to do and when. And that’s where people, your experts of the world and your 32-star matches and all that b******t, means absolutely less than nothing.”
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Junkyard Dog: A Unique and Influential Figure in Wrestling History
Junkyard Dog, also known as Sylvester Ritter, was a professional wrestler who left an indelible mark on the wrestling industry. Despite not being considered a great in-ring talent, JYD’s charisma and ability to connect with the audience made him one of the best workers in the business.
One of the key factors that set Junkyard Dog apart was his undeniable charisma. Bruce Prichard, a WWE executive, emphasized this point on his podcast, “Something To Wrestle.” JYD had a natural ability to captivate the audience from the moment he stepped out of the locker room. His larger-than-life personality and captivating presence made him an instant favorite among fans.
While some may argue that JYD was not a technically skilled wrestler, Prichard acknowledged this fact but highlighted that it didn’t matter. Junkyard Dog’s greatness as a worker stemmed from his understanding of what to do and when to do it. He had an innate sense of timing and knew how to elicit the desired reactions from the crowd. Prichard even went as far as saying that JYD was the best worker, despite not being the best wrestler, because he possessed this invaluable quality.
Junkyard Dog’s impact on the wrestling industry cannot be understated. He paved the way for future wrestlers who relied more on their charisma and connection with the audience rather than technical prowess. JYD’s success showed that wrestling is not just about in-ring ability but also about connecting with fans on a deeper level.
In 2004, Junkyard Dog was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, solidifying his legacy as one of the greats in wrestling history. His influence can still be seen today, as many wrestlers strive to replicate his ability to engage and entertain the audience.
As wrestling fans, we can appreciate the unique contributions that Junkyard Dog made to the industry. His charisma and understanding of crowd psychology set him apart from his peers. While he may not have been the best technical wrestler, his impact on the wrestling world is undeniable. Junkyard Dog will always be remembered as a true legend and a testament to the power of charisma in professional wrestling.
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