Championship Wrestling from Florida (1972–1982) 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. This title reign was recognized by
New Japan Pro-Wrestling, as well as the Los Angeles and Florida NWA territories, but not by the NWA as a whole, which considered 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. He also held the
NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship on two occasions. 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.
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". 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 Hogan's matches.
Later career (1994–2001) After WCW, Keirn worked in the
independent circuit mainly in Florida and Tennessee. He retired in 2001 after a tour for
New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Retirement and post-career (2001–present) Since the late 1980s, Keirn has run a school to train wrestlers. Originally located in
Tampa, Florida, Keirn's "Professional Wrestling School of Hard Knocks" is now located in
Brandon, Florida. Keirn helped train many wrestlers, including
Mike Awesome,
Dennis Knight,
Diamond Dallas Page,
Dustin Rhodes,
Tracy Smothers, and
Roman Reigns. and made regular appearances on FCW television. His last match was on December 10, 2007, at the 15th Anniversary Raw participating in a Battle Royal where he was eliminated from the match by
Sgt. Slaughter. On August 14, 2012, FCW was discontinued and the
WWE Performance Center opened on July 11, 2013. == Autobiography==