Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, Hulk Hogan, Triple H, Edge and More React To Passing of Howard Finkel

UPDATE: WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon commented on the loss of WWE Hall of Famer Howard Finkel today as well. You can read the tribute he posted to Finkel earlier today on Twitter below.

Vince McMahon wrote, “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.”

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

ORIGINAL: As we reported earlier today, WWE Hall of Famer and ring announcer Howard Finkel passed away at the age of 69. There has been an outpouring of love from the wrestling industry on social media, including Stephanie McMahon, Edge, Triple H, Hulk Hogan, Big E, Jim Ross, the NWA and more.

McMahon wrote: “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.”

Edge added: “I will miss this man. Howard Finkel was the voice @christian4peeps and I emulated when we performed our own ring introductions for our living room or side yard(depending on the weather) wrestling “shows”. I know there’s an entire generation of kids, now grizzled adults who did the same thing. He was “our voice”. When I debuted in the WWE and I heard Howard’s voice introduce Edge, I welled up. THAT’S when it became real that I’d made it. I will never forget the goosebumps I had the night on a house show at The Skydome when he said “and NEEEEEEWWWW Intercontinental Champion”. Our first tag title win at WrestleMania of all places. The voice? Howard. More importantly than all of that, he was my friend. He was a genuine, warm and compassionate man who absolutely LOVED his job. I remember standing with him nightly behind the curtain with a bunch of the boys firing him up as Welcome to the Jungle played for his ring intro music. This hurts. The Fink. The best. Ever.”

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

Fink was not only an indelible part of my childhood but he couldn’t have been sweeter to me any time I saw him backstage. I’m grateful to have known him.

— Ettore “Big E” Ewen (@WWEBigE) April 16, 2020

The National Wrestling Alliance sends its deepest sympathies to the family, friends and fans of legendary pro wrestling ring announcer Howard Finkel.

— NWA (@nwa) April 16, 2020

IMPACT Wrestling is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Howard Finkel. We send our condolences to his friends and family.

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 16, 2020

Howard Finkel was a great friend and mentor to me. I was so blessed to be able to look to him for guidance, honesty and the occasional bit of humor. He spoke with kindness, and always had a sparkle in his eye when speaking about our industry. Thank you for everything Howard. 💛

— Brandi Rhodes (@TheBrandiRhodes) April 16, 2020

Dammit, this is a another kick in the gut. 😞😞 Rest Easy Fink! One of the greatest and most recognizable voices in history. Loved this dude. Everyone did. https://t.co/MklOpTCacu

— Hurricane Helms (@ShaneHelmsCom) April 16, 2020

Im crushed
I lost my friend today
I saw him once a month
The Voice of Wrestling
I loved him so much
The Fink pic.twitter.com/EOWmADTkjO

— Tommy Dreamer (@THETOMMYDREAMER) April 16, 2020

https://twitter.com/courtbauer/status/1250796965702651906

I saved the first voicemail that he ever left me. He was calling to inform me of my NEWWW travel. My Dad and I thought it was the coolest thing.
I'll play some good music for ya. pic.twitter.com/75xiwSjY9A

— M@ (@MattStrikerTV) 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…

I’m so grateful I got to know him. https://t.co/sALmt2Ihb6

— Kevinn (@FightOwensFight) April 16, 2020

Very sad to wake up to the news of Howard Finkel's passing. The most iconic voice in the history of the wrestling business. I was lucky to meet Howard on a few occasions and he was always so kind, complimentary & classy. My thoughts and condolences are with his loved ones today. pic.twitter.com/iIfdkVWMHC

— Nick Aldis (@RealNickAldis) April 16, 2020

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

— Johnny Gargano (@JohnnyGargano) April 16, 2020

I’m gonna dearly miss my friend @howardfinkel. Passionate Mets & wrestling fan. An incredible soul. He’s the soundtrack to so many of our childhoods. Nobody has ever done it better. Rest In Peace Fink.

— Brian Myers (@Myers_Wrestling) April 16, 2020

とってもとっても良い方でした

とても良くしてもらいました

I'm proud to have called you.

RIP @howardfinkel pic.twitter.com/Sn95C2JDqE

— ＴＡＫＡみちのく (@takam777) April 16, 2020

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

"Iconic" is an understatement.

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

— WWE (@WWE) April 16, 2020

https://twitter.com/FrankieKazarian/status/1250795869818912772

The first great ring announcer is gone. RIP @wwe Hall of Famer Howard Finkel. pic.twitter.com/jvkGDDVh4u

— John Layfield (@JCLayfield) 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 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

He was our voice of wrestling. The world lost an amazing human today in @howardfinkel pic.twitter.com/iaofFWHtay

— Dylan Postl (@DylanPostl) April 16, 2020

https://twitter.com/RealPaigeWWE/status/1250809443878486016

RIP legend 💔⁣
Thank you 💔⁣#wwe #ringannouncer #wweuniverse #wwf #howardfinkel #smackdown #raw #wwenetwork #rip #legend #goat ⁣#thefink https://t.co/datP1QCnQR

— Austin Romero (aka: Mike Rome) (@AustinMRomero) 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

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

View this post on Instagram

I will miss this man. Howard Finkel was the voice @christian4peeps and I emulated when we performed our own ring introductions for our living room or side yard(depending on the weather) wrestling “shows”. I know there’s an entire generation of kids, now grizzled adults who did the same thing. He was “our voice”. When I debuted in the WWE and I heard Howard’s voice introduce Edge, I welled up. THAT’S when it became real that I’d made it. I will never forget the goosebumps I had the night on a house show at The Skydome when he said “and NEEEEEEWWWW Intercontinental Champion”. Our first tag title win at WrestleMania of all places. The voice? Howard. More importantly than all of that, he was my friend. He was a genuine, warm and compassionate man who absolutely LOVED his job. I remember standing with him nightly behind the curtain with a bunch of the boys firing him up as Welcome to the Jungle played for his ring intro music. This hurts. The Fink. The best. Ever.

A post shared by Adam “Edge” Copeland (@edgeratedr) on Apr 16, 2020 at 7:59am PDT

One of THE MOST AMAZING People I’ve EVER had the pleasure of Talking too😔 #RIPHowardFinkel https://t.co/UgrCYC64Ea

— Titus O'Neil (@TitusONeilWWE) 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

— MATT HARDY (@MATTHARDYBRAND) April 16, 2020

RIP to the legendary voice of our childhood. 🎤 💔 pic.twitter.com/1NmAhraVmt

— Bollywood Boyz (@BollywoodBoyz) April 16, 2020

RIP 💔💔💔 https://t.co/4tncqYnHy6

— Lexi (Kaufman) Cabrera (@AlexaBliss_WWE) April 16, 2020

Every wrestling fan at some point envisions themselves making an entrance at WrestleMania. I have done it almost everyday of my life, and The Fink is the only voice I hear saying my name in my head.

— Tony Nese (@TonyNese) 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