Legendary WWE ring announcer Howard Finkel dies at 69
No cause of death was stated for the icon, who has been a staple of shows since the WWE was established in 1980.
WWE ring announcer Howard Finkel, seen here interviewing The Rock, dies at 69. (Photo: Instagram/WWE)
The WWE has announced on Friday (Apr 16) that ring announcer Howard Finkel has died. He was 69 years old.
While no cause of death was stated, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Finkel was said to have suffered a serious stroke in 2018 and had been in poor health.
Finkel, who had been affectionately given the nickname “The Fink” has been with the WWE since its inception in 1980 and in the industry even longer. He first made his debut in Madison Square Garden in 1977 as a ring announcer for the WWWF – the WWE’s predecessor – making him the longest-serving employee in the organisation.Â
He would then go on to have an illustrious career, even joining in at certain points such as in 1995 when he battled his nemesis Harvey Wippelman and helping to shave Jeff Jarrett’s head in 1998.
“The Fink was an indispensable resource inside the WWE offices for his vast knowledge of sports-entertainment history. Well respected by current Superstars, WWE Legends and Hall of Famers, Finkel’s encyclopedic memory and kindness made him beloved among his colleagues,” the WWE said in a statement.
In 2009, Finkel was inducted into the WWE’s Hall of Fame.
