#thefink

I heard about this yesterday morning. This one hurts. Howard Finkel has passed away. He was the voice of a generation. My childhood.

He was the longest tenured employee in WWE. He was first hired by Vince McMahon Sr. in the WWWF. He made his debut in Madison Square Gardens on January 17, 1977. By 1979, he became the company’s lead ring announcer for their biggest events.

In 1984, he became the lead ring announcer for TV tapings, replacing the retired Joe McHugh. house shows, etc.. On January 19, 1987; Mean Gene Okerlund presented him with a plaque commemorating his ten-years of announcing Madison Square Gardens.

In 1995, Finkel took a seven month hiatus from ring announcing TV and pay-per-views (he was still doing house show). He he returned at Royal Rumble 1996.

He ring announced all the way up to the 2010.

In his early years with company, he helped with talent relations and creative. He was the one who came up with the event name WrestleMania and Ricky Steamboat’s nickname “The Dragon.” He sometimes was use in the title sequence of the company’s various broadcasts.

He was mainly a ring announcer, but was in a handful of storylines.

Past and present WWE superstars shared their about Finkel. Even his condition, he was more worried about Roman Reigns’ health.

Finkel suffered a stroke in 2019 and was in bad health ever since.

He was 69. Rest in peace, Fink. Your iconic #ANDNEWWWW will never be forgotten.