El anunciador del ring del Salón de la Fama de la WWE, Howard Finkel, murió a los 69 años de edad. Finkel pasó más de tres décadas trabajando para la WWE, y su voz está vinculada a muchos de los momentos más importantes de la historia de la WWE, desde el primer combate de WrestleMania, entre The Executioner y Tito Santana en 1985, hasta servir como locutor personal de CM Punk en Survivor Series en 2011.
El locutor icónico hizo su debut para la WWWF en 1977 y se convirtió en su primer locutor de tiempo completo en 1979. Cuando la WWF se estableció en 1980, Finkel fue su primer empleado, y el que más tiempo sirvió.
Finkel apareció en cada WrestleMania de 1985 a 2016, que fue la otra racha conocida de WrestleMania además de la The Undertaker. Finkel hizo la transición a un papel detrás del escenario una vez que estuvo fuera de cámara, y fue exaltado al Salón de la Fama en 2009.
Entre su papel al aire y su presencia constante detrás del escenario en los eventos de la WWE, Finkel compartió con muchas generaciones diferentes de talentos en WWE. Las estrellas del pasado y del presente expresaron su aprecio por Finkel en las redes sociales reaccionando a la noticia del jueves.
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
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
Howard was the best. It's that simple. I'll never forget the last few times I saw him...the excitement he still had for the industry, the genuine concern he showed when asking about how my family was doing despite his own declining health...
— Kevin (@FightOwensFight) April 16, 2020
I'm so grateful I got to know him. https://t.co/sALmt2Ihb6
HE PUT ME OVER. HE MAKE ME LOOK LIKE THE LEGEND. HE MAKE ME SMILE. FOREVER I LOVE YOU HOWARD FINKEL pic.twitter.com/cY8tTHDqds
— The Iron Sheik (@the_ironsheik) 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
Saddened about the passing of my friend & colleague, Howard "The Fink" Finkel. Fink was my main contact when I first starting getting myself & Jeff booked as extras in the mid 90s. Howard always took great care of us & had a soft spot in his heart The Hardy Boyz. #RIPFink pic.twitter.com/dNPTscanuR
— #BROKEN Matt Hardy (@MATTHARDYBRAND) 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