The Rise And Fall Of The Junkyard Dog (Dark Side of the Ring Season 4 Review)

[@terrencecarter1915]

Three Wrestlers that my grandma loved, Sylvester Ritter, Butch Reed, & Ted DiBiase. She was the main person that got me into amateur and pro wrestling.

[@deondrecarter153]

It hit different when Jake said at the ending “he was happy when he pass because he knew that he wasn’t suffering anymore ”😢

[@wilcomayn1]

Solomonster, I learned more about JYD in your review than the entire DSOTR episode. Great job! Also, sorry to hear about your father and the parallels to JYD's death.

[@davidvainqueur2482]

People forget or don't know that JYD was the top guy during his stint in Stu Hart's Stampede wrestling having held the North American title, which was the company's equivalent of the world title. Afterwards, he headed down to mid-south wrestling.

[@TheSolomonster]

They made him the champion right away, too, after his debut

[@davidvainqueur2482]

​@@TheSolomonsterI was born and raised in Calgary and have fond memories of Stampede wrestling. Owen Hart, Brian Pillman, Bad News Allen, Chris Benoit, yup, that guy, etc. Those were the days.

[@benespinosa6725]

This was very interesting episode of Dark Side of the Ring i wasn't even born when Junkyard Dog was wrestling i had to do research on his Career i love these episodes of dark of side of the Ring because i learn so so much.

[@ant4158]

The first time I remembered JYD was the Rock n Wrestling cartoon, then I watched his wrestling matches. I just remember him being so big and having a bigger smile, he's one of those guys who couldn't turn heel.

[@DoneRandomLee]

This was a important episode for me because growing up in louisiana i would often hear from people about their memories of mid south and my gosh so many more elderly folk said so many great stories of jyd and all of them hated the freebirds. My gosh I totally believe that the story of jyd being blinded and the dog collar match was all over news papers because so many knew of it. From what I heard jyd to new orleans during mid south is basically the equivilant to being the quarterback to the local football team. So many know who you are even if they're paying very little attention to it, does a lot of local bsuinesses and promotions, and is seen as a good and honorable member of the community.

[@michaelsinger4638]

He rose like a rocket, but burnt out in the end. Such a sad ending as well.

[@MilkmanC]

Addicts are usually WAY WAY smarter than the typical given credit

[@Am71919]

I was a cocaine and alcohol addict for 10 years and trust me when I tell you, there's NOTHING smart about blowing 1k a week

[@MilkmanC]

@@Am71919 *usually ...also, we're talking when the addict cleans up and wasn't that pos all along and is actually bright. Damn dude sounds like you're still kickin your own ass

[@Kaltagstar96]

What I think is insane about the story of the fan who jumped the rail with a gun, I love how JYD's first thought wasn't "Oh shit, I've got to get this gun away from this fan" it was "Oh shit, I can't break kayfabe". I mean, I don't think The Freebirds would've minded the kayfabe break on that occasion.

[@JLRules]

As OSW put it, every other promotor's main eventers were McMahon's midcarders.

[@JR_Donofrio]

That’s actually sad but true. Vince had so many stars that he ultimately fed to hulk hogan. A Vince style booking trope. Have 1 top guy and feed everyone to him.

[@chadk890]

Working with Hogan got them bigger paydays. Just like the NWA with Flair

[@AdolphSaxOfficial]

Still true to this day

[@atibamorales9380]

In the instant of racism in WWE I don't think it was so much that people thought JYD should have been at the level of Hogan, but at the time wrestlers like JYD and others didn't win any midcard titles despite competing for them. They'd usually beat Intercontinental champions by disqualification. I mean it's understandable these black wrestlers wouldn't be pushed to Hogan's spot, no wrestlers could. But to put in the spot as guys like Macho Man, Steamboat, Greg Valentine and Honky Tonk Man would have been doable but they didn't get that much.

[@michaelsinger4638]

WWE does have a, very mixed track record with race in general.

[@chadk890]

WCW was no better until Doom won the tag belts in 1990. Can't blame WWF for everything

[@atibamorales9380]

@@chadk890 well it was the wrestling business in general.

[@gaipontiff2]

The TV tapings back then were a good month in advance. In fact Kerry Von Erich lost the IC Title back to Mr. Perfect at the TV taping BEFORE Survivor Series 1990, but they had to put the title on Kerry for the PPV because the title change had not been televised yet.

[@c4662]

Koko B. Ware came across really bitter in this episode due to being a jobber throughout his career. Yeah, he isn't wrong about racism back then and all, but he really got carried away. JYD wasn't the only former top star outside of WWE that didn't get pushed at a Hogan level in WWE. One example is Dino Bravo. A former top star in the Canadian territory.

[@ch1kmagnet]

He's speaking his truth.

[@c4662]

@dominicrigsby8547 Except every top star from their territory came to WWF at the time like JYD, just to bankrupt the other territories. So it's not like the guy was being held down for one specific reason. Also, Koko was treated as jobber material throughout his whole career, unlike other black wrestlers who got pushed better than him at that point. Dude should be lucky his career lasted into the early 90s and getting a HOF induction.

[@MilkmanC]

@@dominicrigsby8547 I don't think he did either. On another note, the stiff stuffed bird is hilarious. Anytime I see it I just think taxidermy lmfao

[@sleazyfellow]

​@dominicrigsby8547 white boy lense. Wth. Were you even around back then? The WWF roster was stacked with top guys from the territories they put under. There was no way all of them could be the top guy. Koko was not a jobber initially in the WWF he came in winning alot. He stuck around way past his expiration date which is why he later became a jobber. Same with tito and others.

[@swainblaine1609]

koko had the problem of having an awful jobber gimmick.

[@tuxedotservo]

16:31 "... the Snowman - not Tony Khan" I'm glad you clarified that... I was confused for a moment. 😉😆

[@davidvainqueur2482]

Racism had nothing to do with JYD not being the top guy in WWF (e), 1984-93 belonged to Hulk Hogan. Guys like JYD, Piper, Jimmy Snuka, Paul Orndorff, Curt Hennig, Rick Rude, Andre the Giant, Ted DiBiase didn't stand a chance.

[@sleazyfellow]

All those guys, top guys in previous territories. That's why I always say, the WWF 80s roster, the WCW roster of the late 90s and the WWF roster of the early 2000s are the most stacked rosters of all time. Fuck, just look at the tag team division of the 80s in the WWF. All they were missing was LOD in those days.

[@MisterE1976]

Enjoyed this very much. Thanks for everything you do, Solomonster!

[@ericmelton5003]

Growing up in central Arkansas I had a 2nd row ringside seat for almost every Mid South/UWF house show from August of 1982 through July of 1987 in Little Rock, Pine Bluff and other Arkansas towns. When Junkyard Dog was there and came to the ring the electricity in Barton Coliseum in Little Rock Arkansas was monumental. Dog called Little Rock on his promos as " my 1 hundred dollar town). The screams were deafening. The only other that I could compare it to was when we were visiting my parents friends in Dallas Texas and in 1983 we went to a live World Class show at the Dallas Sportatoriam. That particular Friday night when Kevin and Kerry Von Erich came to the ring the building exploded. Dog was like that as I didn't think any rock band that ever played any Mid South town was as large of a star as Junkyard Dog. One night Mid South had a just released a photo book of JYD with many pictures of his matches. On his way back to the dressing room after defeating Kamala The Ugandan Warrior I held the book out and Dog autographed my book with his initials J.Y.D. Just like that same night Wrestling 2 autographed my book MR. 2. Although both autographed with initials I will never forget those moments. Also that night Arn Anderson when he was Marty Lunde, Tito Santana, Tiger Conway Jr and even General Skandar Akbar and Kamala's handler Friday broke kayfabe autographed it for me. In following years The Rock and Roll Express, Hacksaw Duggan, Butch Reed, The Fabulous Freebirds, The Fantastic all autographed merchandise for me JYD was the most special. The fans admired Dog to a maximum and he knew how to connect with everyone. Mid South never had a bigger star.

[@jordanharvey6385]

Thank you for giving more information regarding the wrestlers that dark side of the ring talks about.

[@misterelom]

The Cornette story about the fan with the gun wanting to shoot Michael Hayes was absolutely insane. Heels today couldn't draw half of that level of heat. The territories were wild but aside from the real life shenanigans, that was a great time.

[@tthomaselli2]

I know this will seem like an off-topic question, but, I'm gonna ask, anyways: How come The Junkyard Dog isn't in any of the other WWE games?... The last I saw him in a WWE game was in 'WWE SmackDown! VS. RAW 2007', I believe... He hasn't been featured in any other WWE games, since & as far as I know, he's long over-due for another appearance--even as a part of a WWE Hall Of Fame/WWE Legends D.L.C., for example. To be fair, there are a ton of other names that you could throw in there that should & could be included, as well...

[@TheJumpMan98]

First time viewer here and I have to say that I am glad I came across your channel. You earned a new supporter!

[@TheSolomonster]

Thanks man, welcome aboard! 👊

[@micklemackle207]

The sheer temerity that New Jack, a man infamously known for doing all kinds of drugs even worse then the stuff that Junkyard Dog ruined his career over is outraged at Dog for something as simple as weed New Jack literally killed a man

[@rocawill23]

It's a shame Dark Side Of The Ring, glossed over his two marriages cause the events from those marriages definitely amplified his drug use and played a part in his downfall.

[@jerranspearman3369]

good review

[@jonathancoleman6482]

I’m 27 I didn’t know junkyard dog was that big back then

[@MilkmanC]

I'm 42 and had no idea till I heard Cornette mention it a few years ago

[@johnfalcetta5431]

He was OVER. he was a huge star until drugs ruined him. Crowds went nuts for him.

[@btbucks]

I had the Jyd action figure.

[@herczeus9341]

He was my favourite African American wrestler of all time. I had his action figure when I was a kid. I saw him wrestle live back in the day. He was electric to the crowd. Everyone loved him.

[@marcbarhausen8132]

Here in Germany, wrestling became a thing at 1990/91 when it started on TV. I knew who YJD was, but never how over this guy was in his prime.

[@The765Das]

this was a proper review. greatly told.

[@tthomaselli2]

"The Big Dog" Roman Reigns VS. The Junkyard Dog.

[@Dr_1212]

Have to see this I remember JYD

[@Keez808]

Great episode jason

[@daynawaymire]

Grew up watching him at WCCW in the early 80s

[@jadmantoura4483]

400K a year; that's 1K for every day that Hogan worked one year

[@boogie8558]

Those LJN figures should cost some money now

[@MrAce-lm8es]

Sylvester Ritter, The Legend of "The Junkyard Dog" in Mid South Wrestling and TitanSports, Inc., The World Wrestling Federation 1984 - 1988.

[@Ohionortheast]

Reed and dogs feud in mid south I think 83 was amazing

[@THEANIMEFANZ_]

As someone who lives in Louisiana yeah I hate my state's racists past

[@Dud512]

I live in Texas. My state too has some racist issues that I don't like either

[@THEANIMEFANZ_]

@@Dud512 I ment in context of what solomonster is talking about

[@ryanjacobson2508]

Racism has existed everywhere and at all times.

[@charlesezrarevmongoosecane5097]

I still blast the song “ Grab them Cakes “

[@Lockport-420]

Just saw the dark side loved the JYD

[@joeynova9896]

Macho Man also died at the wheel of a car. So sad.

[@watersandblue6001]

which was caused by steroids

[@pastorcodymitchell1456]

good point i may not reallly care for hogan but noted

[@popularzbie9761]

Jason I’m surprised u didn’t collect the greatest wrestling figure line of all time hasbro. I haven’t been a wrestling fan since 2004 but I still have all my hasbros and I also started collecting the new retro figures of hasbro style of wrestlers from wwf circa 87 to 2004/5.

[@Chuc_9600]

New sub here! 🎉

[@Keez808]

My childhood hero

[@ArtKing187]

This is heartbreaking

[@irontaylor9992]

Jyd was the best😊

[@lucaslarson430]

Looks like Logan Paul and Ricochet will have a match at Summerslam, so that’s off the table. I hope they keep LA involved in programs until they give him a title

[@paulcarpenter7844]

For the ljn figures have junkyard dog and red and white pants minehead I believe red trunk

[@78Bigtank]

awesome

[@happyChappy96621]

I know the world isn’t perfect now it’s far from it. But holy shit I can’t imagine being black and growing up in the times of segregation.

[@Keez808]

Back then kayfabe was very real

[@derekgaliee4351]

Racism back Than ?? Still to this Day .

[@teflonjohn4018]

My mom and Dad watched him

[@fictionrumble]

Hey

[@7StarKarma]

Saying JYD instead of Junkyard Dog is pretty silly, they have the same number of syllables, doesn’t actually save any time.

[@TheSolomonster]

What a weird comment 😂

[@cathaldowdall7467]

V good

[@derekgaliee4351]

Hogan Same old Same old You Forgot Hogan Racist Comments. The Speed Pump Comments last Month ! Some of you have Short Memory. Vince McMahon Never Makes A Black Talent Look Strong

[@TheSolomonster]

Yes, if you put a little effort in to listen to my content, I talked about the Hogan speed bump comments when they happened. What does that have to do with Junkyard Dog? What are you even on about?

[@hatchetmouth8211]

This was the most boring episode of Dark Side OTR ever. I didn't really get much 'dark side' from this, just a story of a fairly standard wrestling career.

[@ryanjacobson2508]

I think they wanted to play the race card to some degree....JYD was so messed up on drugs by the time of the WWF run that he has nobody to blame but himself.

[@THENATIONIBUILT]

just like Eddie Murphy in trading places!

[@THENATIONIBUILT]

cut the check!

[@THENATIONIBUILT]

sad!