Howard Finkel Fans Heartbroken After Legendary WWE Ring Announcer Dies at 69

It's been a tough week for WWE. Right after announcing the release of numerous superstars and [...]

By Brian Jones

It's been a tough week for WWE. Right after announcing the release of numerous superstars and backstage employees, the company announced WWE Hall of Fame ring announcer Howard Finkel died at the age of 69. He was the company's first employee, and ended up being WWE's longest-serving member.

Finkel was known for his distinct voice, and it led to him being beloved by fans and wrestlers. He has announced a countless number of shows including WrestleMania III, which was headlined by Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant. The event also had 93,000 fans, which was a record at the time. When talking about the event, Finkel said: "They can never take it away from me. It's something that I cherish and I've always enjoyed, that WrestleMania in 1985, moving even into the one in 1987 in Pontiac, Michigan. How do you think it felt to announce in front of 93,000 people? It's not easy."

Because of the impact Finkel made on the company, he was named to the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2009. In recent years, Finkel has been working backstage, but he was also dealing with health issues. Fans and WWE personalities all expressed their love for Finkel on social media.

Stephanie McMahon

Stephanie McMahon, WWE Chief Brand Officer sent a message to Finkel, thanking him for all he did for WWE. His voice was a big part of WWE's rise to fame in the 1980s, and when the company transitioned into the Attitude Era in the 1990s, Finkel was right there with WWE.

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Jim Ross

Longtime announcer Jim Ross is another person who has known Finkel since his start in WWE. Ross called him the "greatest ring announcer" in pro wrestling history, and he mentioned how much Finkel loved his job and everything about it.

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Brandi Rhodes

Brandi Rhodes, the Chief Brand Officer of AEW, knows Finkel very well, as she spent time in WWE with her husband Cody Rhodes before they launched AEW. During her time with the company, Brandi Rhodes looked to Finkel for advice, and by the looks of things, it has paid off.

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Christian

WWE legend Christian talked about the time he and Edge won the tag team championships for the first time, and Finkle announced them as the winners. Finkel is known for saying, "AAAND NEWWW," anytime new champions are crowned, and Christian absolutely loved it.

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Great Moment

During the Survivor Series in 2011, Finkel returned to be the ring announcer for CM Punk, and received a big ovation from the fans. Finkel turned out to be a good luck charm for CM Punk as he beat Alberto Del Rio to win the WWE Championship.

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Another Great Moment

As mentioned earlier, Finkel was the ring announcer at WrestleMania III, and he announced Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat becoming the new Intercontinental Champion. The match between Steamboat and "Macho Man" Randy Savage is considered one of the best in WWE history, and Finkel made it bigger.

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Jerry Lawler

"The King" Jerry Lawler talked about the time when he first met Finkel, which was in 1993. Whenever Lawler needed anything, Finkel was right there, and he was like that with everyone in the company. Lawler also revealed they went to an NFL game together.

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