diff --git a/ranger_tempest_plugin/tests/api/base.py b/ranger_tempest_plugin/tests/api/base.py
index 3f1a7a4..f7da4ee 100755
--- a/ranger_tempest_plugin/tests/api/base.py
+++ b/ranger_tempest_plugin/tests/api/base.py
@@ -56,48 +56,10 @@ class BaseOrmTest(test.BaseTestCase):
         try:
             # check if ranger region exists
             cls.region_client.get_region(CONF.identity.region)
-        except exceptions.Unauthorized:
-            # create region for testing if it doesnt exist
-            cls.region_client.create_region(
-                **{'id': CONF.identity.region,
-                   'name': CONF.identity.region,
-                   "locationType": "Floor",
-                   "vlcpName": CONF.identity.region,
-                   'description': 'region for testing',
-                   'status': 'functional',
-                   'rangerAgentVersion': '3.0',
-                   'OSVersion': 'stein',
-                   'CLLI': '12345',
-                   'address': {'country': 'This', 'state': 'region',
-                               'city': 'is for', 'street': 'test',
-                               'zip': 'purposes'},
-                   'metadata': {},
-                   'designType': 'large',
-                   'domainName': CONF.auth.admin_domain_name,
-                   'endpoints': [{
-                       'publicURL':
-                       'https://dashboard-nc.%s.cci.att.com'
-                           % CONF.identity.region,
-                       'type': 'dashboard'
-                   }, {
-                       'publicURL': cls.identity_url,
-                       'type': 'identity'
-                   }, {
-                       'publicURL':
-                       ('https://ranger-agent-nc.%s.cci.att.com'
-                           % CONF.identity.region),
-                       'type': 'ord'
-                   }]})
-        except (exceptions.UnexpectedResponseCode, exceptions.NotFound) as e:
-            raise cls.skipException(
-                "Test skipped, Ranger region unavailable") from e
-
         except Exception as exp:
-            if "ConnectionError" in str(exp):
-                skip_msg = "Tests skipped, Ranger unavailable: {}".format(
-                    str(exp))
-                raise cls.skipException(skip_msg)
-            raise exp
+            skip_msg = "Ranger services unavailable: {}".format(
+                str(exp))
+            raise cls.skipException(skip_msg)
 
         try:
             # alt_region_available is True, skip tests and warn