‘Disgusting’ 90s WWE villain who mentored Roman Reigns is unrecognizable with new look at 73

Three decades ago, Steve Keirn was one of the most colourful characters in the WWE’s early-1990s roster.

As Skinner, the former Fabulous One left behind his championship pedigree to become a swamp-dwelling alligator hunter – chewing tobacco (actually black licorice), spitting venom and brandishing a gator claw in each promo and match.

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He prowled through episodes of Superstars, battled against Jim Duggan, The Texas Tornado and co at Survivor Series 1991, and took a swift, 90-second tumble at WrestleMania VIII against Owen Hart – moments etched in the minds of fans and arch-villains alike.

The man behind the gator-getter was an accomplished performer. His challenge for the Intercontinental title against Bret Hart at This Tuesday in Texas in 1991 arguably shining as his finest WWE match-up.

The ‘disgusting’ WWE villain who got sharp backstage warning from Ultimate Warrior

The Skinner character, though, has been labelled ‘gross’ and ‘disgusting’ in the years that have followed his journey from the Everglades to the wrestling ring – some top wrestlers even falling for his convincing act.

In a podcast appearance looking back at his career, the wrestler noted toiling with WWE Hall of Famer The Ultimate Warrior and getting a firm backstage warning from his iconic rival before a match.

The grappler said: “He told me before the match: ‘Whatever you do, don’t spit that licorice in my face,’ because he had face paint on, and that was like telling me don’t do something…

“[That] was kinda hard for me to accept at the time, so I did [spit licorice in Warrior’s face].”

That mischievous defiance perfectly encapsulated Skinner’s lethal charm – and Keirn’s commitment to his character.

Fast-forward to 2025 and a wrestling era of multi-million-dollar gates, and a $5bn Raw deal with Netflix alongside new ESPN rights for Premium Live Events, and the difference is astonishing.

Keirn, now 73, surfaced at a summer wrestling convention looking every bit the sharply dressed elder statesman.

Gone were the tobacco-stained teeth, the swamp-rugged flannel and the menacing sneer.

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What does WWE star Skinner look like now?

Instead, he posed dressed head-to-toe in black with a cross glinting from his neck, smiling alongside Matt Hardy in a photo that quickly circulated among fans.

The two represented entirely different eras of WWE but stood together as proof of the industry’s longevity, with Hardy himself a former champion who grew up watching the very characters men like Keirn brought to life.

Keirn’s career, of course, stretched far beyond the Skinner gimmick, from tag-team glory with Stan Lane as The Fabulous Ones to stints in WCW and a backstage run as a trainer.

He played Doink the Clown on occasion, filled in for other characters when called upon, and eventually became a central figure in WWE’s developmental system as president of Florida Championship Wrestling (2007–2012), one of the precursors to what is now NXT.

It is a vivid reminder that this is far from the first time Keirn has remade himself. Beyond Skinner, he wrestled under masks, painted his face, and worked in promotions across the United States.

Yet his fingerprints are most visible across the WWE decades: FCW guided future main-eventers like Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Bray Wyatt, Big E, Sheamus and The Usos through their early struggles.

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Skinner once spat licorice in the faces of his opponents. Today, Steve Keirn smiles for the camera – unrecognisable from the swamp-dweller who once stalked the ring, and those in it.