10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (May 12)

4. Steve Keirn's Skinner Character Was Based On Real-Life

Kids terrified of the dangerous-looking Skinner character from 1991-1993 will rejoice in the fact that he was chewing liquorice instead of tobacco on television. That was the only thing 'fake' about the gimmick, though, because Steve Keirn was a bonafide alligator hunter away from the ring.

The Two Man Power Trip Of Wrestling podcast managed to tap into Keirn's time as Skinner, and the ex-wrestler fondly recalled meeting Vince McMahon for the first time. Eager to make an impression, the fledgling WWF signee brought a gator skull, paw and hide to the meeting with him.

In 1991 alone, Keirn had killed and skinned no less than 15 alligators. That's right: 'Skinner' was literal, and not just a hokey cartoon character Vince McMahon came up with. In fact, McMahon had nothing to do with it other than linking Skinner to the movie Deliverance and asking him to be like the "guys in the woods".