WWE announced earlier today on WWE.com that legendary ring announcer Howard Finkel had passed away at the age of 69. The cause of death wasn’t revealed, but he had been in bad health following a stroke and recently had been seen in a wheelchair.
The Fink as he was affectionally known is regarded by many as the greatest ring announcer of all time and was honored by McMahon by being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009, and also has the distinction of being Vince McMahon’s first official employee.
Finkel was beloved by both fans and those in the industry, and Twitter is full of tributes to the great man, including those from Vince McMahon, Hulk Hogan, and our own Chris Jericho you can read below.
Saddened to learn of the passing of my friend and WWE’s first employee, WWE Hall of Famer Howard Finkel. The grandest moments in sports-entertainment history were made all the grander thanks to Howard’s iconic voice. pic.twitter.com/aAMY2XaHsm
— Vince McMahon (@VinceMcMahon) April 16, 2020
Howard Finkle was on Team Hogan through the good and bad times,even when I was on the outs Howard would call on a consistent basis to tell me to always keep my head up,it was” never say never” and “you and Vince will work it out”,my good friend RIP,I love you 4LifeHH
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) April 16, 2020
Thanks Howard….for being the best wrestling ring announcer in history, a great employee for the @WWE, a good guy and a loyal lackey! Hopefully you’ll announce my entrance into the great unknown when I join you some… https://t.co/qQ7gdbhpAR
— Chris Jericho (@IAmJericho) April 16, 2020
Howard Finkel had the voice and presence to make any match feel more important, and any wrestler that had Howard Finkel announce them had indeed made it in the wrestling industry. RIP Howard.
