• On This Day In Pro Wrestling History (June 1, 1998) – Old School WWF Legend Passed Away
On this day in 1998, we lost Old School WWF Legend The Junkyard Dog (Real name: Sylvester Ritter) at the age of 45.
After becoming a huge Territory Star in Bill Watts’ Mid-South Wrestling, JYD joined the World Wrestling Federation in 1984 and jumped ship to WCW in December of 1988, just a few day after Ted Turner bought Jim Crockett Promotions and renamed it.
The Junkyard Dog’s last major Pro Wrestling appearance came one month before he passed away, when he was involved in an in-ring segment at ECW Wrestlepalooza 1998.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY & † R.I.P.
December 13, 1952 – June 2, 1998
• Reby Hardy Fires Back At A Fan Being Upset About A Spot At AEW Double Or Nothing Due To Shad Gaspard’s Death
The first ever Stadium Stampede match took place at AEW Double Or Nothing last Saturday. At one point during the match, Ortiz and Santana tried to drown Matt Hardy in a pool, which led to his resurrection and him changing into another gimmick.
However, some of Shad Gaspard’s friends felt uncomfortable while watching that spot, as Gaspard had passed away due to drowning in the sea just a couple of days before the event.
WHAT THE FUCK. #AEWDoN #AEW https://t.co/hW3vzscrhK ?https://t.co/YafkexvTyM ?? pic.twitter.com/yvhgARkTS4
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubIta) May 24, 2020
The Wrestling Observer noted the following about what Gaspard’s friends felt while watching the spot:
“There was a scene where they showed Hardy’s lifeless body and even though it was comedy for another resurrection, I can say that this particular scene was one that at least some friends of Gaspard did find uneasy because they told me that themselves.”
A fan also complained about this to Reby Hardy, wife of Matt Hardy.
You should have done that when Matt Hardy agreed to do that pool spot with Santana and Ortiz at stadium stampede match days after Shad's death. Hypocrite
— vamsi Krishna (@wamcii_) May 30, 2020
This led to Reby replying the following:
Matt has *MAGICALLY TRANSFORMED* in water as part of a GIMMICK for over 5YRS now & this moron wants to try it. Shad was OUR FRIEND. We been heartbroken & shook tf up since it happened YOU DIDNT EVEN FUCKING KNOW HIM. Stop the faux outrage & fuck ALL THE WAY OFF. A fucking REACH.
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) May 30, 2020
And while we’re at it. Fuck these people too. There was no “drowning angle”. There was no drowning, period. THERE IS A LOT ON TV TO UPSET ABOUT THIS WEEK BUT THIS AINT IT. https://t.co/uP9ItM9zmb
— Reby Hardy (@RebyHardy) May 30, 2020
Also Read: Jim Cornette Rips AEW’s Stadium Stampede Match, Says Wrestling Needs To Die
