...and NEW WWF WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION!!.....
All hail "The Fink!" You're right Kev, long over due!

agreed kev. i loved it when 'harold' was teamed up with jericho. it was gold!!

.... remember Jooooe McHugh..... Ed Darien .... Gary Michael Cappetta ?????

RESPONSE FROM KE: Joe McHugh is the epitome of old school. That's a compliment.

The Fink, as The Brain would call him, is great, and I'm glad to hear that he's headed to the Hall of Fame. I remember him from the opening of the Royal Rumble, which is always my favorite PPV of the year. And like you, I like that he's the voice of the Dirt Sheet.

All I can say is...IT'S ABOUT TIME!!

It's about time!

Howard is the voice of wrestling. Period.

It's one thing for the WWE to exclude him from free television programming, but not having him exclusively call major pay-per-views -- especially WrestleMania (which I believe Howard based on Beatlemania) -- is really squandering talent. (Imagine that…WWE squandering talent!)

Who can ever forget being a kid in the late 80's and early 90's and hearing Howard's voice penetrate the crowd ruckus…"Ladies and Gentlemen…may I please have your attention..here is the referee’s official decision…the winner of this bout…and NNNNNEEEEEWWWWWWWW World Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Champion…"

What made it great, was the fact that his voice blended in so well with the entire broadcast. Like a beautiful movie score. You don't really focus on it when it's happening; you just let it surround your senses. You simply feel it.

And who can forget his image and the bubble comic book graphic above his head displaying the match winners in the Super Nintendo game Super WrestleMania!

And Kevin is so right…Howard would list off tour dates with that funky bass music in the background…on USA Prime Time Wrestling…with that cheesy pic and sound effect of a plane zooming by.

What a great addition to the Hall of Fame. I think he needs to be inducted by Vince -- who else.

Yep, it's true, never been fired. He's actually currently the coach of the WWE industrial league softball team. Hopefully he comes out and does the announcing for one of the matches at WM25

I loved the bit when Jericho and Finkel were together and Jericho was doing the 'Raw is Jericho' bit and The Fink asked if he could have his own show too and Jericho's reply was "What, Fink Down?"

Speaking of Wrestlemania, the web site still not listing any match for Jericho, which makes me think that this legends bizness isn't the way it's going down. That, or they're madly scrambling for anyone at all to get in there instead of three aging codgers.

I used to love how the Fink would give the most dramatic announcements for title changes in the 80s:

"The winner of this contest.... AND NEEEEEEEEW World Wrestling Federation Champion..."

CLASSIC. No one did it better,,,

Howard Finkel but not Mel Phillips?

I thought for sure he'd be a "shoe"-in for the Hall of Fame.

But seriously, Howard Finkel was the best. Nothing atgainst Lillian Garcia, but Finkel adds something special to the proceedings that is missing today. He also did a good job as a color commentator on the few occasions that he got to do that.

Do you know anything about Joe McHugh, the announcer on the old WWF Tv shows with the unusual accent?

I wondered if he'd be inducted someday. For me, there are times when Lilian Garcia, as nice as she is to look at, is hard to listen to. I'd like to see "The Fink" come out and do a few "Raw"'s a year.

Apparently, Finkel is an font of wrestling knowledge. Do you know if he had a hand in helping with the new WWE Encyclopedia that is out?

Also, one other thing. I think Finkel is the only person to appear at every Wrestlemania. I would assume (especially now) that he'll make an appearance this year, too, to keep his streak alive.

Good to see that Howard Finkel is going to the HOF. Clearly the best ring announcer of all time. Back in the day you knew it was a big deal when he would say "And Neeeeeeeeeeewww, World Wrestling Federation.........."

Eck, the older ring announcer from the 1980's and earlier was the great Joe McHugh, who ring announcing went back to the 1920's. McHugh was great, and if you watched the John Studd body slam challenges on youtube, he was great, specially when Andre the Giant showed up.

McHugh's cache prhase was "ladieeees and gentlemen"

RESPONSE FROM KE: I remember McHugh very well. When I mentioned an older gentleman announcing at the Baltimore Civic Center, I was referring to someone else. This man worked the Baltimore shows every month in the' 70s and early 80s. Just can't remember his name. Check out the famous Bruno Sammartino-Billy Graham WWWF title match from Baltimore in 1977 on YouTube and you will see and hear who I'm talking about,

Kevin, I can picture that guy like he's standing right in front of me. An elderly, grey-haired man with glasses. I think his first name was Johnny but, I just can't remember his full name. His last name might have started with a C. He would announce the matches and Vince DePaula and Eddie Blake would referee. Those were the days my friend.

It's funny how I can recall Joe McHugh and his delivery ..." doctor in attendance at ringside , Dr. George Zaharian" , some 40 yrs. ago . But I can't seem to recall my next door neighbors name .

i can't believe that he is not already in to be honest it is obviously way overdue i just wish that they would let him announce the Main Event for Wrestlemania and do you know if they are gonna do another goofy legends battle royal like they did for 20 to celebrate the legacy of there first 25 years

The man you are thinking of is Johnny Venditti, who was the Civic Center ring announcer from prehistoric times up through the mid-1980's, before unceremoniously being replaced by Mel "Happy Feet" Phillips. While I am second to none in my admiration for Fink's style and think his HoF induction is long overdue, those old-style ring announcers such as Venditti, his Baltimore partner Gil Snyder, Washington's "Friendly" Bob Freed, New York's Johnny Addie, Hollywood's Jimmy Lennon Sr. and others were without peer. Even now, I miss hearing Johnny Venditti's mellifluous voice in the ring (I believe he died in the late 1980's). Of the current ring announcers, only Lilian García can hold a candle to the Vendittis, Freeds and Finkels of the world. If Gary Cappetta were still announcing, he would also be a member of this club. I wish they would bump Roberts and Chimel and replace them with Cappetta and Finkel.

Jeff - thanks for the info ! That's so great to help us recall those personalities from our local past . Thanks again !

He should announce the entire Wrestlemania 25 show...then it will be a true emotional moment.