Howard Finkel

04/15/2020

WWE releases up to 40% of its staff, some of which included on-air talent, producers, and coaches. Personally speaking, it was stunning that these particular talents were picked, for example, Mike Chioda, who was WWE's most tenured referee in the company, will not be returning.

This list include Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, Curt Hawkins, Zack Ryder, and Heath Slater.

I remember thinking "Man, you could start a company with this list of talent. There's no possible way it could get worse."

04/16/2020

It got worse.

WWE's first employee, the man who coined the word "Wrestlemania" Howard Finkel, has passed.

If you watched WWE at any point from the 1980s to the early 2000s, Finkel was there.

The Fink had been announcing those moments for everyone from Hulk Hogan to John Cena (and especially CM Punk), and announcing "your winner of the contest and your NEEEWW...." to "one foot touched the floor".

I always felt that ring announcers have a very special role in that they are the host of the show. They inform the crowd of the participants and announce results and decisions in the midst of chaos. A voice of certainty in madness. Finkel just had a voice that anything he announced sounded amazing. One time I asked Gary Michael Capetta, the ring announcer for WCW for advice, he looked at me, dead in the eyes and simply responded "Feeling. People have to believe in what you're saying".

Finkel's passion and enthusiasm for what he did and for his sport will echo for a long time. Being a fan first, he lived for this even up until the end. I think that was the biggest effect on my life and anyone else of a certain age who donned formal wear and picked up a microphone.

The Fink was truly special, and an one-of-a-kind human being.

We love you, Fink. And we'll miss you.