Known affectionately as «The Fink,» legendary WWE ring announcer Howard Finkel has died at age 69. Finkel, who was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009, announced some of the most memorable moments in the history of professional wrestling.WWE shared Finkel's passing on Thursday, though a cause of death was not revealed.
Finkel, the first and longest-serving employee in WWE history after the company was officially established in 1980, had seen his health decline rapidly in recent years and was confined to a wheelchair in 2019 after suffering a stroke.
Finkel made his ring announcing debut for WWE's predecessor, the WWWF, in 1977 inside New York's Madison Square Garden. He was originally hired by WWWF owner Vince McMahon Sr.