All of wrestling lost a great man.

The WWE themselves reported today that Hall of Fame ring announcer, Howard Finkel, has passed away at the age of 69. In the article, the WWE themselves give a statement towards Finkel’s legacy.

When considering the greatest ring announcers in the history of sports and sports-entertainment, you’d be hard-pressed to name one better than Howard Finkel. A native of Newark, NJ, “The Fink” — a label that had been attached affectionately to Howard over the years — made his ring announcing debut at Madison Square Garden in 1977 for WWE’s predecessor, WWWF.

By 1979, Finkel was the full-time ring announcer for WWWF, and when WWE was established in 1980, The Fink became the first — and eventually longest-serving — employee. Finkel’s distinctive voice was instantly recognizable, and for more than two decades Superstars such as The Ultimate Warrior, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and more would have a title victory marked by The Fink’s signature call, “and NNNEEEWWW World Champion!” 

Needless to say, the wrestling world has poured out its heart in the last few hours. You can scroll through WWE’s Twitter feed to see all the names from within their company, such as Booker T, The Bella Twins, Braun Strowman, Christian, Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, Stephanie McMahon and Triple H. There are also names from outside the WWE, such as Rob Van Dam, Virgil, Taz, Jim Ross, Kevin Kelly, and just countless wrestling sites like ours, and fans all around.

I personally never got to watch Howard Finkel in his prime, from his introductions of great matches to classic moments like the Tuxedo Match with Harvey Wippleman on Raw back in 1995. But his special returns were always great, and it is clear his influence is widespread. You won’t hear an English-speaking promotion not have a ring announcer reflect his style, especially with the “AND NEW” announcement. The WWE extends its condolences to the Finkel family as well as friends and fans, and so do we here at The Chairshot.