Stephen Paul Keirn (born September 10, 1951) is an American retired
professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances in multiple
National Wrestling Alliance territories as
Steve Keirn as one-half of the
tag team The Fabulous Ones, as well as his appearances with the
World Wrestling Federation under the
ring name Skinner.
Much of Keirn's early career was spent wrestling as part of a
tag team. While wrestling in
Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF), he held the
NWA Florida Tag Team Championship twelve times; once each with
Bob Backlund,
Jimmy Garvin, and
Brian Blair, and nine times with
Mike Graham. In addition, the team of Keirn and Graham won the
NWA Florida United States Tag Team Championship three times.
In 1981, Keirn began wrestling with the
Tennessee-based
Continental Wrestling Association (CWA). He was successful as a singles wrestler, winning a tournament to claim the
AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship. He also held the
NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship on two occasions. As in CWF, Keirn found his greatest success in the tag team division. He held the
AWA Southern Tag Team Championship 17 times, including 14 reigns as one half of
The Fabulous Ones with
Stan Lane. Keirn and Lane also teamed to win the
CWA World Tag Team Championship twice. The Fabulous Ones competed in various promotions over the next decade. In 1984, the team won the
Southwest Championship Wrestling World Tag Team Championship while wrestling in Australia.
In the United States, they won the NWA Florida United States Tag Team Championship twice. In 1991, the pair wrestled in the
United States Wrestling Association, defeating
Tony Anthony and
Doug Gilbert to win the
USWA Tag Team Championship.
In the summer of 1991, Keirn debuted in the WWF as Skinner, an
alligator hunter from the
Florida Everglades. He was portrayed as a generally nasty individual, always chewing on
tobacco and sometimes spitting it on his opponent. He carried an alligator claw to the ring with him, which he would often use as a weapon against his opponents. He competed in the
1991 King of the Ring tournament, defeating
Virgil in the first round but losing to
Bret Hart in the second round. While still being billed as undefeated, he challenged Hart for the
WWF Intercontinental Championship at
This Tuesday in Texas on December 3, 1991, but lost by
submission. Skinner competed in the 1992
Royal Rumble, lasting 2:13 before being eliminated by
Rick Martel. At
WrestleMania VIII, he was defeated in one minute and eleven seconds by
Owen Hart. Keirn also unsuccessfully challenged
Randy Savage for the
WWF Championship on the June 29, episode of Prime Time Wrestling. He also competed in the 1993
Royal Rumble, but was eliminated by
Mr. Perfect at the 3:05 mark. While in the WWF, Keirn also portrayed
Doink the Clown on occasion. At
WrestleMania IX, Keirn helped the
original Doink defeat
Crush by attacking Crush dressed as Doink during the match.