Steve Keirn Then and Now
By Cornell Scott / August 27, 2024
Steve Keirn Then
Steve Keirn, born on September 10, 1951, in Tampa, Florida, grew up with an extraordinary family story that profoundly influenced his life.
He attended Robinson High School in Port Tampa, where his father, Richard Keirn, was a significant figure in his life.
Richard Keirn’s military service was marked by unimaginable hardships, as he was a B-17 pilot during World War II.
In September 1944, Richard was shot down over Germany and spent time as a prisoner of war.
Despite surviving this ordeal, his life took another tragic turn two decades later.
In July 1965, when Steve was just 13 years old, Richard Keirn was shot down again, this time during the Vietnam War.
Captured by enemy forces, Richard was held as a prisoner in the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” for over seven and a half years.
The prolonged absence of his father during these formative years left a deep impact on young Steve.
While his father was imprisoned, Steve found solace in spending time with his school friend, Mike Graham.
Mike’s father, Eddie Graham, was a prominent wrestling booker and a key figure in professional wrestling, later earning induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Through his close relationship with the Graham family, Steve Keirn was introduced to the world of professional wrestling, laying the foundation for what would become a celebrated career in the industry.
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Steve Keirn Wrestling Career
Steve Keirn is a legendary figure in professional wrestling, known for his versatility and success in both singles and tag team competitions.
Early in his career, Keirn found prominence in Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF), where he became a dominant force in the tag team division.
He captured the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship a remarkable twelve times, teaming with various partners including Bob Backlund, Jimmy Garvin, and Brian Blair.
His most notable partnership, however, was with Mike Graham, with whom he won the title nine times. Additionally, Keirn and Graham held the NWA Florida United States Tag Team Championship three times, further solidifying their legacy in the region.
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In 1980 and 1981, Keirn shifted his focus to singles competition and quickly found success in Florida and Georgia.
Among his accolades, he captured the prestigious NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title by defeating Chavo Guerrero Sr.
This title reign was recognized by New Japan Pro-Wrestling and multiple NWA territories, although it was not officially recognized by the NWA, which later declared the title vacant and held a tournament to crown a new champion.
The title Keirn held was later renamed the NWA International Junior Heavyweight Title.
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During this period, Keirn also claimed the NWA National Television Championship twice, earning victories over wrestling legends Terry Funk and Kevin Sullivan.
In 1981, Keirn began competing in the Tennessee-based Continental Wrestling Association (CWA), where he enjoyed significant success as both a singles and tag team wrestler.
He won the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship by emerging victorious in a tournament and also captured the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship twice.
However, Keirn’s most enduring success in the CWA came as part of the tag team division.
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Alongside Stan Lane, he formed The Fabulous Ones, a highly popular and influential tag team.
Together, they held the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship an impressive 14 times and added two CWA World Tag Team Championship reigns to their resume.
The Fabulous Ones became a fixture in multiple promotions throughout the 1980s, even capturing the Southwest Championship Wrestling World Tag Team Championship while wrestling in Australia.
In 1991, Keirn joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), where he adopted the character of Skinner, a gritty alligator hunter from the Florida Everglades.
Skinner was portrayed as a tough, unpleasant villain, complete with a tobacco-chewing habit and an alligator claw that he would often use to gain an advantage in his matches.
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Although Skinner never reached the top tier of the WWF roster, he participated in significant events, including the 1991 King of the Ring tournament and a challenge for the WWF Intercontinental Championship against Bret Hart.
Skinner also competed in high-profile events like the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania, where he faced Owen Hart in a brief match at WrestleMania VIII.
During his time in the WWF, Keirn also occasionally portrayed Doink the Clown, helping the original Doink (played by Matt Borne) in a memorable match at WrestleMania IX.
Keirn’s versatility allowed him to play different roles within the company, adding layers to his wrestling career.
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After leaving the WWF, Keirn joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1994, where he formed the tag team “Bad Attitude” with Bobby Eaton.
Despite both wrestlers’ previous success in tag teams (Keirn with The Fabulous Ones and Eaton with The Midnight Express), their new partnership did not achieve much success.
During his time in WCW, Keirn was also involved in an angle where he donned a black mask to attack Hulk Hogan during several matches in late 1994.
Following his WCW stint, Keirn transitioned to wrestling on the independent circuit, primarily in Florida and Tennessee, before retiring in 2001 after a tour with New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
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However, Keirn’s contributions to wrestling extended beyond his in-ring career.
Since the late 1980s, he has operated a wrestling school, the “Professional Wrestling School of Hard Knocks,” originally located in Tampa, Florida, and later relocated to Brandon, Florida.
The school produced numerous successful wrestlers, including Mike Awesome, Dennis Knight, Diamond Dallas Page, Dustin Rhodes, Tracy Smothers, and Roman Reigns.
Keirn’s school became an integral part of WWE’s developmental system when it was incorporated into Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) in 2007.
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Keirn was named President of FCW, playing a significant role in shaping the next generation of wrestling talent. He frequently appeared on FCW television as well.
Keirn’s final in-ring appearance came on December 10, 2007, at the 15th Anniversary of Raw, where he participated in a battle royal.
After FCW was discontinued in 2012, WWE launched the Performance Center in 2013, marking the next evolution of its developmental system.
Keirn’s contributions to the industry, both as a wrestler and a trainer, have left a lasting legacy in professional wrestling.
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Steve Keirn Wrestling Competition
- Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF)
- NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (with Bob Backlund, Jimmy Garvin, Brian Blair, Mike Graham)
- NWA Florida United States Tag Team Championship (with Mike Graham)
- National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)
- NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
- NWA International Junior Heavyweight Title
- NWA National Television Championship (defeated Terry Funk and Kevin Sullivan)
- NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship
- Continental Wrestling Association (CWA)
- AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship
- AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (with Stan Lane as The Fabulous Ones)
- CWA World Tag Team Championship (with Stan Lane as The Fabulous Ones)
- Southwest Championship Wrestling
- SCW World Tag Team Championship (with Stan Lane as The Fabulous Ones)
- World Wrestling Federation (WWF)
- Portrayed as Skinner
- Wrestled in the 1991 King of the Ring tournament
- Wrestled in the 1992 and 1993 Royal Rumble
- Challenged for the WWF Intercontinental Championship (vs. Bret Hart)
- Portrayed Doink the Clown on occasion
- World Championship Wrestling (WCW)
- Formed tag team “Bad Attitude” with Bobby Eaton
- United States Wrestling Association (USWA)
- USWA Tag Team Championship (with Stan Lane as The Fabulous Ones)
Steve Keirn Now
Steve Keirn, now 72 years old, is a retired American professional wrestler with a storied career that spans several decades.
He is best known for his contributions to the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) territories and his time in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), where he became a well-recognized figure in the industry.
Throughout his career, Keirn established himself as a versatile competitor, thriving in both singles and tag team wrestling.
His most notable success came as one-half of the tag team “The Fabulous Ones,” alongside Stan Lane.
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Together, they became one of the most iconic tag teams of the 1980s, winning numerous championships and helping to redefine the presentation of tag team wrestling.
Their popularity was immense, particularly in the Continental Wrestling Association (CWA), where they held the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship multiple times.
In addition to his work in the NWA territories, Keirn gained wider recognition in the WWF during the early 1990s under the ring name Skinner.
As Skinner, he portrayed a rugged, alligator-hunting character from the Florida Everglades, complete with a scruffy appearance, tobacco chewing habit, and a signature alligator claw that he often used in matches.
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Although Skinner was primarily featured as a mid-card heel, the character left a memorable mark on fans of that era.
Keirn participated in several major WWF events, including the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania, and even challenged Bret Hart for the WWF Intercontinental Championship.
Following his active in-ring career, Keirn transitioned into training and developing future generations of wrestlers.
Today, he runs Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), which played a pivotal role as WWE’s developmental territory before it evolved into what is now known as NXT.
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Under his leadership, FCW became a breeding ground for future WWE superstars, providing a crucial stepping stone for talents like Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and many others.
Keirn’s deep knowledge of the business and his experience both inside and outside the ring have made him an influential figure in shaping the future of professional wrestling.
In sum, Steve Keirn’s legacy is multi-faceted. From his in-ring accomplishments in tag team wrestling and his memorable stint as Skinner to his role in nurturing new talent through Florida Championship Wrestling, Keirn has made significant contributions to the wrestling industry.
His impact is still felt today through the many wrestlers he has trained and mentored, ensuring that his influence continues long after his own retirement from the ring.
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FAQs
Steve Keirn, now 72 years old, is a retired professional wrestler. After his in-ring career, he transitioned into training and developing future wrestlers.
He ran Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), WWE’s developmental territory before it evolved into NXT. Today, Keirn remains respected in the wrestling community for his contributions.
In the WWF, Steve Keirn portrayed the character Skinner, an alligator hunter from the Florida Everglades.
Skinner was a gritty, tobacco-chewing heel who used an alligator claw as a weapon. He was featured in major events like the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania during the early 1990s.
The Fabulous Ones, consisting of Steve Keirn and Stan Lane, were a popular tag team in the 1980s.
They achieved success primarily in the Continental Wrestling Association (CWA). The team eventually disbanded as both wrestlers moved on to different promotions and roles in the wrestling industry.