WWE: Howard Finkel im Alter von 69 Jahren verstorben

Wie heute auf WWE.com zu lesen ist, ist heute Morgen eine der berühmtesten Stimmen im professionellen Wrestling von uns gegangen. Im Alter von 69 Jahren starb Ringsprecher und Hall of Famer Howard „The Fink“ Finkel.

Die tatsächliche Todesursache ist noch nicht bekannt, doch es war bekannt, dass sich sein Gesundheitszustand in den letzten Jahren verschlechtert hat.

Finkel debütierte 1977 als Ringsprecher bei der WWE (damals noch WWWF) und wurde 1979 zum Vollzeit-Ringsprecher ernannt. Er war der erste fest Angestellte, nachdem Vince McMahon Senior ihn damals den Vertrag anbot, und somit wahrscheinlich der Dienstzeitälteste im Unternehmen. Im Jahr 2000 lösten ihn Lillian Garcia und Tony Chimel bei den Weeklies (RAW & SmackDown) ab, während er sich in den folgenden Jahren auch mehr und mehr von den Pay-Per-Views verabschiedete. Ab da an arbeitete er hauptsächlich im Büro der Company. Er wurde von den Kollegen, Superstars, Legenden, Hall of Famern für seine liebe Art und sein enzyklopädische Wrestling-Gedächtnis mehr als nur respektiert.

Howard Finkel sagte über zwei Jahrzehnte die Superstars an, verkündete die Sieger der Matches, assistierte X-Pac beim „SummerSlam 1998“ (nach dem erfolgreichem Sieg im Hair vs. Hair Match) den Kopf von Jeff Jarrett zu rasieren, war der Namensgeber für das alljährlich größte Wrestlingspektakels – „WrestleMania“ und vieles mehr. Zurecht wurde er 2009 in die WWE Hall of Fame eingeführt.

Wir wünschen seiner Familie und seinen Freunden viel Kraft und drücken unser herzlichstes Beileid aus. #RIPHowardFinkel

https://twitter.com/WWEDeutschland/status/1250792136083214336

"Iconic" is an understatement.

Remembering WWE Hall of Famer Howard Finkel. https://t.co/kKSyrflkrg pic.twitter.com/vmj7aJyH43

— WWE (@WWE) April 16, 2020

Hier haben wir noch ein paar Reaktionen von Twitter für Euch:

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

You weren’t someone until you heard Howard announce you. A championship win didn’t feel real until you heard him say “and the new!” His voice, his personality, and his positivity will be sorely missed. Thank you for everything…especially your friendship. https://t.co/CYSPt6vnvU

— Triple H (@TripleH) April 16, 2020

In what has already been a tough week for our @WWE family, today we lost our 1st ever employee and WWE Hall of Famer, @howardfinkel. Howard’s voice is iconic & recognized by generations of fans. He will be missed. #RIPHowardFinkel Thank you for everything. ❤️🙏❤️

— Stephanie McMahon (@StephMcMahon) 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

So sad to hear of the passing of my friend, the greatest ring announcer in the biz, Howard Finkel, at the age of 69.

The Hall of Famer is now ring announcing in Heaven. #RIPFink

No one was more loyal or loved pro wrestling more than The Fink. 🙏

— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) April 16, 2020

First met Howard Finkel in 1993 when I started working with @WWE.
Always the most helpful and genuine friend to everyone he came in contact with. My favorite day with Howard was when he and I attended a Cleveland Browns, New York Jets game together. Miss you, Fink! RIP pic.twitter.com/z5PP9MeEEJ

— Jerry Lawler (@JerryLawler) April 16, 2020

Even as Howard’s health declined, he was more concerned about me and my fight to be healthy. We lost one of the greatest ever. He was the greatest ring announcer ever, and that couldn’t even compare to the human being that he was. RIP Fink.

— Roman Reigns (@WWERomanReigns) April 17, 2020

I saw a voicemail after a day of training at OVW, it was my call up to raw! Howard Finkel spoke as if announcing a new world champion, at madison square garden! I will never forget that + his “welcome to the jungle” entrance is unmatched & sparked us all to have a great show!

— Nic Nemeth (@NicTNemeth) April 16, 2020

I thought I was out of tears but I was wrong. The news just keeps getting worse. I just heard about the passing of a wonderful human being & one of the GREATEST RING ANNOUNCERS EVER @howardfinkel. I am going to miss that undeniable voice and his wonderful wit. #RIPHowardFinkel pic.twitter.com/59IE3eyoci

— Charles Robinson (@WWERobinson) April 16, 2020

We lost one of the greatest ring announcers of all time, Howard Finkel. Howard was the man who came up with the name “WrestleMania” and he was one of the most beloved people in @WWE. Howard ring announced my dad’s very first match at @TheGarden. We love you, Howard. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8TdmTvZQph

— Nattie (@NatbyNature) April 16, 2020

https://twitter.com/VickieGuerrero/status/1250839358258675714

Howard Finkel was a staple of my childhood. The voice we all grew up with. I first met Howard backstage at WrestleMania 33. I walked up and as I said "Hello, sir" and went to introduce myself, he burst out "HELLO, JOHNNY!" I couldn't believe he knew MY name! #RIPFink

— Not Shawn Michaels (@JohnnyGargano) April 16, 2020

I remember early in my @WWE career there was a Mexico tour where Lilian Garcia was unable to attend & Howard Finkel stepped in. When he announced me as I made my entrance I had the biggest grin on my face, I was that 10-year-old boy for a moment #ThankYouFink #ripfink

— Santino Marella (@milanmiracle) April 16, 2020

Sad to hear that #HowardFinkel passed this morning. I had the pleasure of sharing the ring with him so many times. Unforgettable voice, and a true loving soul. Prayers go out to his family🙏🏼❤️

— Dustin Rhodes (@dustinrhodes) April 16, 2020

My sympathies and prayers go out to the family of HOWARD FINKEL. He wasn’t just a WWE Hall of Famer, he was a Hall of Famer in life! You’ll be missed brother. RIP. DDP pic.twitter.com/908mSHLEvY

— Diamond Dallas Page (@RealDDP) April 16, 2020

I want you all to know how much the @WWE meant to him
He loved & missed you all so much
Every time I would leave him
I would said I love ya Fink and There are good fans there are great fans but you are the BEST fans EVER
Celebrate his life
The Finkhttps://t.co/kgEZy4cbZd

— Tommy Dreamer (@THETOMMYDREAMER) April 16, 2020

Very sad to hear #HowardFinkel passed. He was just a great guy always joking, laughing & positive. The greatest Ring Announcer ever, his iconic voice will live in Pro Wrestling history forever. Prayers go out to his family. #RIPFink pic.twitter.com/XGAYVwQrwv

— taz (@OfficialTAZ) April 16, 2020

I'm absolutely gutted over the passing of Howard Finkel. Another voice of my childhood has been silenced. Such a sweet, sweet man. I'll miss our conversations about wrestling and Rock N Roll. This ABSOLUTELY sucks. Love ya Fink! pic.twitter.com/eAX0cOktda

— Brian Heffron aka The Blue Meanie (@BlueMeanieBWO) April 16, 2020

you guys know howard finkel as the legendary ring announcer he was. i know him as the first person who was genuinely nice to me in stamford—we’d take the bus after work together and he’d tell me how much he loved his wife and his job. this really fucking sucks #RIPHowardFinkel

— Cathy Kelley (@catherinekelley) April 16, 2020

Rest well my friend!!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼💚💚💚 pic.twitter.com/aATMbmLVUZ

— The Monster of all Monsters (@Adamscherr99) April 16, 2020

(Quelle: WWE.com/Twitter)