JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Pro wrestler “Junk Yard Dog,” famous for his growls, head butts and power slams in a quarter-century career, died in a car crash Thursday. He was 45.
In his heyday in the late 1970s to the mid 80s, Sylvester Ritter filled the New Orleans Superdome, teamed with Cyndi Lauper on an album and had a huge television following with his outfit of red tights, white boots and a dog collar.
In the last few months, he repossessed cars part time while competing in small matches and benefits in Louisiana and Mississippi.
Ritter had returned to Mississippi on Monday after attending his daughter’s high school graduation in Wadesboro, N.C. He crashed on a stretch of interstate near Forest in central Mississippi late Tuesday as he transported a repossessed car.
Ritter’s contemporaries in the ring included Hulk Hogan, Jesse Ventura, Roddy Piper, Randy Savage and Nikolai Volkoff.