Jump to content
TSM Forums
Sign in to follow this  
Guest Downhome

Let's remember the wrestlers who have passed on...

Recommended Posts

Guest Downhome

I made this thread, just out of respect out of all of the great wrestlers who have passed on in the past. I've never seen anything like this before, so I thought it could be a great idea for a thread, so, here it is. Here is how it will work...

 

...I will start off with the first wrestler, and what we'll do is simply share memories of that wrestler. Just post something you remember about him/her, something you'll never forget, or just anything about them. After we talk about that wrestler for a while, I'll then make a post stating the next wrestler for us to talk about, to remember, and to show respect towards. This goes for any wrestler who has passed away also, so please no jokes in making fun of them as a person. If you must joke, just do so in a way that isn't offensive, ok? Anyhow, here is the first one for us all to remember...

 

Sylvester "The Junkyard Dog" Ritter The Junkyard Dog --- 1953-1998

 

jydrip.jpg

 

...the one thing that I remember about this legend, more than any other aspect would be the times that he faced Ric Flair. Ric was such a huge heel, and Junkyard was just a HUGE face. I know that many of you don't really remember or even ever saw The Dog, but he was insanely over, he really was. I'll never forget the chants, not only in his feuds with Flair, but also his every feud...

 

...J-Y-D, J-Y-D, J-Y-D.

 

Of course we have his apperances at various Wrestlemanias, fighting against guys like Greg Valentine to "King" Harley Race to even midgets! I know he wasn't the greatest technician of all time, but he was and will forever be a legend. Have it be because he was one of my childhood favorites, or maybe it was something more. All I know is that I always loved the big goof, and always will, woohoo!

 

Sincerely,

...Downhome...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest bob_barron

He may not have been the world's greatest worker but anyone who came out to 'Another One Bites the Dust' is awesome.

 

I love those headbutts

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I never really saw that much of JYD. I do remember he had a helluva cool gimmick when I was little. A big dog-like guy was just too much for me. I will say that even though he wasn't a GREAT wrestler, he entertained me, and if somebody can get me watching, then they've done their job. He will be missed.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest dreamer420

He was always full of charisma, and loved by every crowd he performed in front of. While the JYD was not much of a worker, he always popped the crowd, and gave it his all. I was sad when I learned of his death back in 1999 I think, and he was taken way too early.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest Downhome
He was always full of charisma, and loved by every crowd he performed in front of. While the JYD was not much of a worker, he always popped the crowd, and gave it his all. I was sad when I learned of his death back in 1999 I think, and he was taken way too early.

Not to mention the way that the poor guy died. Wasn't he on his way to his childs graduation or something, and had a wreck?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest kingkamala

He was on his way back, I was reading the WWF magazine that had a tribute to him in it. JYD was one of the most charasmatic wrestlers ever and I wish I'd seen some of his stuff in Mid-South. Possibly the top drawing African-American wrestlers ever, seeing how he headlined a lot of the SuperDome shows. I doubt any wrestler besides Hogan or Austin could sell out the SuperDome over and over again like JYD did in the Watts promotion.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest dreamer420
He was always full of charisma, and loved by every crowd he performed in front of.  While the JYD was not much of a worker, he always popped the crowd, and gave it his all.  I was sad when I learned of his death back in 1999 I think, and he was taken way too early.

Not to mention the way that the poor guy died. Wasn't he on his way to his childs graduation or something, and had a wreck?

The story is kind of interesting. I believe that the JYD said he would die a happy man when he saw his daughters (I think it was his daughter) graduation and he was ironically on his way home from her graduation when he had the car accident that took his life.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest Downhome

Well, since it doesn't look like too many people wish to comment on ol' J-Y-D, I'll move on, this time to none other than former WWE World and Tag-Team champion...

 

Rodney "Yokozuna" Anoai --- 1966-2000

 

yoko01.jpg

 

...when I think of Yokozuna, the first thing that I think of is the role that he played at the height of his WWE career. Like him or not, he did play the role of the monster well enough that anyone who faced him looked like a huge under-dog. Not only guys like Bret Hart, but even men like The Undertaker and Hulk Hogan. Regardless of who it was on the other side of the ring, Yokozuna had the feel to him that he was unbeatable, especially with the legendary Mr. Fuji standing in his corner.

 

Yokozuna is truly a sad story, passing away at the young age of 34, because of the one thing that he could never truly overcome, his weight. There were reports that he had it under control many times since his WWE departure, but every time it looked like he would be coming back, he seemed to slip back into where he was at the start of the problem.

 

With all of this aside however, I'll always remember him fondly. He was one of my personal favorite "monsters" throughout the 90's, right up their next to Big Van Vader. His matches with Hogan, Bret, The Undertaker, and even the instance against Luger will always be rememberd. Not to mention the tag team he was half of with Owen Hart, someone we'll get to later. While Yokozuna wasn't a great in ring worker, his character made up for it. In the tag team with Yokozuna, he went along with Owen perfectly, and made up for one hell of a duo.

 

So I'll never forget him, and all that he did. He is a part of many of my great Pro. Wrestling memories throughout the 90's, and yes, that includes the match at the Legend's of Wrestling PPV, as it was great to see Yoko, just one more time.

 

Sincerely,

...Downhome...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest kingkamala

Yokozuna used to scare the crap out of me as a young mark. I thought his match with Luger at Summerslam 93 while not great(Although it was decent) was one of those epic matches that you had to see. The crowd heat and both men's performances were incredible. Yokozuna and Owen Hart's tag team kicked ass. Also I marked out when Yokozuna returned for one night in August of 96 to fight HBK, although the match was hardly enthralling it was nice to see the WWF give Yokozuna a nice exit.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest dreamer420

Yokozuna played a great heel. He had a couple of decent matches with Bret Hart but due to his size wasn't to swift in the ring. Still he could move around pretty well for a dude his size.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest deadbeater

What so funny about his heel work was that he was one of the nicest guys outside the ring.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this  

×