Steve Keirn

Infobox Wrestler
name=Steve Keirn
names=Steve Keirn
Skinner
Doink the Clown


height=6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
weight=215 lb (98 kg)
birth_date =birth date and age|1951|9|10
birth_place =
resides =
billed =Tampa, Florida
trainer=The Funk Brothers
The Brisco Brothers
Eddie Graham
Hiro Matsuda
debut =1972
retired = 2004|

Steve Keirn (born September 10, 1951) is a retired professional wrestler. He is best known for being part of the Fabulous Ones tag team with Stan Lane, and later for a run in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as Skinner, a gimmick that portrayed him as a tobacco spitting Everglades Crocodile Hunter. During his time in WWF, Steve was also one of a number of wrestlers to play the masked role of Doink the Clown.citeweb|title=Wrestler Profiles: Doink the Clown|work=Online World of Wrestling|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/d/doink.html|accessdate=2001-10-12]

Career

Early career

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 one time with each of Bob Backlund, Jimmy Garvin and Brian Blair. He enjoyed his greatest success in the promotion, however, teaming with Mike Graham. Keirn and Graham teamed up to win the title nine times. In addition, the pair won the NWA Florida United States Tag Team Championship together three times.

In 1980 and 1981, Keirn focused on his career as a singles wrestler. He won many titles in Florida and Georgia, including the NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship by defeating Chavo Guerrero.cite web|title=N.W.A. International Junior Heavyweight Title|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/int-j.html|accessdate=2007-12-27] cite web|title=N.W.A. World Junior Heavyweight Title|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/newjapan/nwa-nj-j.html|accessdate=2007-12-28] As a result of this victory, his title reign was also recognized by New Japan Pro Wrestling Keirn also won the NWA National Television Championship twice, defeating Terry Funk and Kevin Sullivan.

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.cite web|title=N.W.A./A.W.A. Southern Heavyweight Title|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tn/cwa/awa-s-h.html|accessdate=2007-12-29] 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 victories as a member of the Fabulous Ones with Stan Lane. Keirn and Lane also combined to win the CWA World Tag Team Championship twice.

Keirn continued to team with Lane 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, Keirn won the NWA Florida United States Tag Team Championship twice more, both times with Stan Lane as his partner. In 1991, the pair wrestled in the United States Wrestling Association, defeating Tony Anthony and Doug Gilbert to win the USWA Tag Team Championship.

World Wrestling Federation (1991 - 1993)

In the summer of 1991, Keirn debuted in the WWF as Skinner, an alligator hunting mountain man from the Florida Everglades. He was portrayed as a generally nasty individual, always chewing on tobacco and sometimes spitting it on his opponent. He also always carried an alligator claw 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.cite web|title=Wrestler Profiles: Steve Keirn|work=Online World of Wrestling|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/steve-keirn.html|accessdate=2007-12-28] He challenged Hart for the WWF Intercontinental Championship at This Tuesday in Texas on December 3 1991 but lost by submission. [cite web|title=Other WWE Supercards|work=Wrestling Information Archive|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/wwf/wwfmisc.htm|accessdate=2007-12-28] At WrestleMania VIII, Skinner was defeated in one minute and eleven seconds by Owen Hart. [cite web|title=WrestleMania VIII|work=Pro Wrestling History|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/mania.html#VIII|accessdate=2007-12-28]

While in the WWF, Keirn also portrayed Doink the Clown on occasion. At WrestleMania IX, Keirn helped the original Doink defeat Crush by dressing as Doink and attacking Crush during the match.

World Championship Wrestling (1994)

Along with Bobby Eaton, Keirn wrestled in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1994 in a tag team known as "Bad Attitude".cite web|title=Wrestler Profiles: Steve Keirn|work=Online World of Wrestling|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/steve-keirn.html|accessdate=2007-12-27] They enjoyed little success, losing dark matches to Brian and Brad Armstrong at Bash at the Beach 1994 and Fall Brawl 1994. [cite web|title=Bash at the Beach 1994|work=Pro Wrestling History|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/beach.html#94|accessdate=2007-12-28] [Cite web|title=Fall Brawl 1994|work=Pro Wrestling History|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/fall.html#94|accessdate=2007-12-28] While in WCW, Keirn was also involved in an angle in which masked men attacked Hulk Hogan. Several times in October 1994, Keirn wore a black mask to attack Hogan during and after his matches. [cite web|title=WCW 1994|work=The History of WWE|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/wcw94.htm|accessdate=2008-01-02] [cite web|title=Masked Wrestlers|work=Wrestling Information Archive|url=http://100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/other/masked.htm|accessdate=2008-01-02]

World Wrestling Entertainment (2004 -)

On May 24 2004 he was hired by World Wrestling Entertainment as a Producer for the SmackDown! Brand. He was also made operator of the newly opened WWE "developmental territory" Florida Championship Wrestling. [cite news|first=Geoff|last=Fox|title=Area Wrestling Will Continue Under A New State Banner|url=http://pasco.tbo.com/pasco/MGBDHS2GB6F.html|publisher=The Tampa Tribune|date= 2007-09-08|accessdate=2007-09-09]

As Skinner, he was named the 9th wildest superstar in WWE history by WWE.com.cite web|title=Wildest Stars #9: Gator Hater|work=WWE|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/listthis/wildestsuperstars/wildestsuperstars9|accessdate=2007-12-27]

On the "WWE Raw 15th Anniversary Spectacular" special on December 10, 2007, Skinner participated in the 15th Anniversary Battle Royal. [cite web|title=Match Results: December 10, 2007|work=WWE|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/results/5674900/|accessdate=2007-12-29]

Retirement

Since the early 1990s, Keirn has run a wrestling school to train wrestlers. Originally located in Tampa, Florida, Keirn's "School of Hard Knocks" is now located in Brandon, Florida.cite web|title=Wrestling books, schools|work=Miami Herald|url=http://origin.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/wrestling/17910780.htm|accessdate=2007-12-29] Keirn has worked with many wrestlers, including Mike Awesome, Dennis Knight, Diamond Dallas Page, Dustin Rhodes and Tracy Smothers.

The school has since been incorporated into the WWE's developmental territory, renamed Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). Keirn oversees as head trainer along with Dr. Tom Prichard & Dusty Rhodes.

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves:*Flying forearm smash:*"Gator Breaker" (Inverted DDT) :*Inverted Boston crab:*Shoulderbreaker:*Sleeper hold:*Swinging neckbreaker

*Signature illegal move:*Jabbing the opponent's throat with an alligator claw

Championships and accomplishments

*Century Wrestling Alliance:*CWA Television Championship (1 time) [cite web|title=N.W.A. Cold Front Television Title|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/newengland/cwa/nwa-ne-tv.html|accessdate=2007-12-27]

*Championship Wrestling from Florida:*NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Championship (1 time) [cite web|title=N.W.A. Florida Brass Knuckles Title|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/fl-bk.html|accessdate=2007-12-27] :*NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (5 times) [cite web|title=Florida Heavyweight Title|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/fl-h.html|accessdate=2007-12-27] :*NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Championship (2 times) [cite web|title=N.W.A. Southern Heavyweight Title (Florida)|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/nwa/fl-south-h.html|accessdate=2007-12-27] :*NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (12 times) - with Mike Graham (9),cite web|title=Florida Tag Team Title|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/fl-t.html|accessdate=2007-12-27] Jimmy Garvin (1), Bob Backlund (1), and Brian Blair (1):*NWA Florida Television Championship (1 time) [cite web|title=N.W.A. Florida Television Title|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/fl-tv.html|accessdate=2007-12-27] :*NWA Florida United States Tag Team Championship (5 times) - with Mike Graham (3)cite web|title=N.W.A. United States Tag Team Title (Florida)|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/nwa/fl-us-t.html|accessdate=2007-12-27] and Stan Lane (2):*NWA North America Tag Team Championship "(Florida version)" (1 time) - with Mike Graham [cite web|title=N.W.A. North American Tag Team Title (Florida)|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/nwa/fl-na-t.html|accessdate=2007-12-27]

*Georgia Championship Wrestling:*NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship (1 time) [cite web|title=N.W.A. Georgia Heavyweight Title|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ga/ga-h.html|accessdate=2007-12-27] :*NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Mr. Wrestling [cite web|title=N.W.A. Georgia Tag Team Title|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ga/ga-t.html|accessdate=2007-12-27] :*NWA National Television Championship (2 times)cite web|title=N.W.A. National Television Title|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ga/nwa/nat-tv.html|accessdate=2007-12-27]

*NWA Hollywood Wrestling:*NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)(First) [ [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/int-j.html NWA International Junior Heavyweight Title history] At wrestling-titles.com]

*NWA Mid-America | Continental Wrestling Association:*AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (1 time):*AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (17 times) - with Stan Lane (14),cite web|title=N.W.A. (Mid-America)/A.W.A. Southern Tag Team Title|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tn/cwa/awa-s-t.html|accessdate=2007-12-27] Bill Dundee (2), and Terry Taylor (1):*CWA International Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Mark Starr [cite web|title=Championship Wrestling Association International Tag Team Title|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tn/cwa/cwa-int-t.html|accessdate=2007-12-26] :*CWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Stan Lanecite web|title=CWA Tag Team Title|work=Pro Wrestling History|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/memphis/titles/cwatag.html#worldtag|accessdate=2007-12-27] :*NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (2 times)cite web|title=N.W.A. Mid-America Heavyweight Title|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tn/nwa/midam-h.html|accessdate=2007-12-27]

*Southwest Championship Wrestling:*SCW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Stan Lanecite web|title=S.C.W. World Tag Team Title|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/san_antonio/scw/scw-t.html|accessdate=2007-12-27]

*United States Wrestling Association:*USWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Stan Lanecite web|title=U.S.W.A. World Tag Team Title|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tn/uswa/uswa-t.html|accessdate=2007-12-27]

References

External links

* [http://www.marksfiles.com/ Memphis Wrestling History 1962 - 1989]