Rest in Peace, 'Fink'

RIP Fink: 1950 - 2020
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I've wanted to get back to blogging and other content creation since this whole COVID-19 quarantine stuff started. It was supposed to be a distraction from reality. Fun posts. However, as I make my blogging re-debut it is with a somber tone. This morning as I was just getting my workday started, the news of Howard Finkel's passing hit social media.

Finkel, aka 'The Fink' was the voice of my childhood. Heck, he was even the voice of many of the wrestling matches I watched as an adult. Simply put, news of Fink's death devastated me. There's no denying that he will go down as the GOAT when it comes to ring announcers. He's in a class all his own. Howard Finkel set the standard for what all of today's ring announcers want to be.

Many fans and wrestlers have been sharing their memories of Fink. We've all heard the iconic announcements he made through the years. "And NEW..." has become a phrase I believe we all associate immediately with Fink's style. 

If there has been one person I've tried to emulate in my years on the independent scene of pro wrestling, it's no doubt the Fink. My current gig as ring announcer at Stride Pro Wrestling is the longest stint I've had (just over four years). It's a total ripoff of the legend as I attempt to announce a new champion being crowned. But as they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. It's an homage to the man with the golden voice. 

Years ago when Fink moved off-screen, I like many fans longed for the days of hearing him in the ring. That distinct bell ringing at Madison Square Garden and the microphone dropping down with Fink's familiar voice are imprinted in my brain. I can hear it all right now as I type this blog. 

Not the best pic, but this is from the HOF ceremony in 2009

At the risk of rambling, I'm going to wrap it up here. I am grateful for the Fink being a part of our lives. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to see him get inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009 in Houston. And I'm grateful to have the chance to step into the ring and follow a dream of announcing the men and women making a name for themselves on the independent scene.

Rest in peace, Fink. You'll be missed.

MVPs of WrestleMania #5

By Kevin Hunsperger & Chad Smart

@kevinhunsperger, @chadsmart, @my123cents

Listen to the podcast
Follow my blog with Bloglovin 

Last year I had the idea to do an MVPs of WrestleMania blog, but came up with it a day or two before the big event.  So I held my list waiting for WrestleMania 32 to roll around.  Admittedly I've made a couple of minor tweaks to the original list and debated internally over the quality of my list.  I invited Chad to play along too.  While the lists aren't perfect (he's not in our top ten), I hope you enjoy.  A new blog will be posted daily until March 31, the day I leave for Dallas.

Warrior vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley
Courtesy: WWE

Kevin's pick:

5) Triple H:  Love him or hate him, it's hard to deny the impact Triple H has had on WrestleMania, not just as a performer but a part of WWE management.  Triple H made his WrestleMania debut 20 years ago as Hunter Hearst Helmsley against a returning Ultimate Warrior.  Sure that outing was less than successful, but it didn't take long for HHH to become one of WWE's big players.  He has had several championship matches, including beating Chris Jericho for the Undisputed Championship at WrestleMania 18.  

He became the first heel to win a WrestleMania main event at WM 2000.  (I don't count Yokozuna's win at WM 9 because Hulk Hogan walked out that night as champion.)  My favorite Triple H WrestleMania match came a couple years ago when he lost to Daniel Bryan in the opener at WrestleMania 30.  It was a bit of a torch passing moment... kinda.  This year the 46 year old heads into the main event of WrestleMania as the defending champion.  When I watched the Blue Blood get squashed in 1996, I never imagined he'd be the champion 20 years later.

The Fink
Courtesy: WWE

Chad's pick:

5) Howard Finkel: There is only one person to appear on camera at the first 31 WrestleManias. That man is affectionately known as, “The Fink.”  Legend has it, Fink is also the one credited with coining the term, WrestleMania.  While he is now reduced to introducing the Hall of Fame inductees, it’s no denying the early WrestleManias would have sounded very different without Howard Finkel’s distinctive voice announcing the competitors.  

There Goes the Neighborhood

The legends...
Photo courtesy: WWE 

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

I have been waiting for Legends' House to debut since hearing about the plans for the show two years ago.  I've always been a fan of shows like The Real World and The Surreal Life and I've course I love wrestling, so this seemed to be perfect for me.

Mediation time
Photo courtesy: WWE

I tuned in for the premiere on the WWE Network, and I was not disappointed.  Eight legends, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, Howard Finkel, Pat Patterson, "Mean" Gene Okerlund, Tony Atlas, Hillbilly Jim, and Jimmy Hart are living together in the series.  Actor and self help guru Gary Busey makes an appearance on the show to help the legends meditate.  While some of his tactics are out there, he does maintain that positive mental attitude.  Although an argument developed between Hacksaw and Atlas, and I'm still not sure why they were fighting.

I know "realty" TV is far from realty, so I suspect things with Legends' House won't all be natural, but it's entertaining.  Tony Atlas is great. He and Rocky Johnson were one of the first tag teams I remember watching as a kid.  I'm glad to see his life is back on track, and his laugh is one of the most comical I've ever heard.

Photo courtesy: WWE

Piper is probably my favorite so far in the house.  I enjoyed his talk with Busey and how wrestlers are never "off" in terms of their character when meeting with fans.  The flashbacks and highlights from previous wrestling events help give fans a better look into these legends as they relive the good ol' days.  We learn more about the toll years in the ring and on the road took on these men.  They really do put their bodies on the line, and for that I'm appreciative.  

Two thumbs up for WWE Legends' House. The season looks like it's going to be awesome.  I hope this becomes a regular show on the Network.

Keep Your Shirt On, Please

Jim Cornette vs. Paul E. Dangerously (Heyman)
Great American Bash 1989
Courtesy: WWE.com

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Since I was unable to watch TNA's "No Surrender" pay per view Sunday night, I really don't have a whole lot that I can say about it.  From what I've heard so far, it was an impressive show.  I'm glad TNA continues to bring it week in and week out on Impact and monthly on pay per views.

So today's blog is inspired by the most recent episode of "Are You Serious" on YouTube.  In it, Josh Matthews and the Road Dogg replay a clip of Jim Cornette and Paul E. Dangerously battling it out in a tuxedo match.  It was from the 1989 Great American Bash.  The funny thing about the clip was the fact that the hosts were bashing it and calling it a bad idea (which I agree with).

The Fink wins!
Monday Night Raw
Courtesy: WWE.com

They then played a clip of the 1995 tuxedo match between Howard Finkel and Harvey Wippleman.  The Fink won that clash by stripping the tux off the back of Harvey.  I can also remember in the early 80's George "The Animal" Steele "wrestling" Mr. Fuji in a series of tuxedo matches too.  And who can forget the evening gown match between Pat Patterson and Gerry Brisco?  Yes, I said evening gown match...

The thing I found funny about this clip besides the doughy, pasty, middle aged guys rolling around in the ring stripping each other was the fact that just a few months ago, the WWE had a tuxedo match between then U.S. champion Santino Marella and ring announcer Ricardo Rodriguez.  Someone else pointed it out on the YouTube video that Matthews and Dogg failed to mention it.  So I'm doing it here too.

from YouTube

I love the series "Are You Serious."  It's actually my favorite of the WWE YouTube shows.  But I've noticed that more often than night, they're poking more fun at WCW ideas then their own.  Granted, wrestling is full of crappy ideas, I think the WWE has gone out of its way to avoid some of its own calamities just for the sake of taking another shot at WCW.  Vince, you won the war.  You can stop burying them.

What do you guys think?  Who watches the show?  It's a lot of fun and I think it is one of the few things WWE produces for YouTube that could be a weekly 30 minute program once the WWE Network finally launches.

Post your thoughts here and please, click like on our Facebook page and follow @my123cents on Twitter.

Announcers in the Ring

Hulk Hogan & Mean Gene!

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

Very soon, I will be making my professional wrestling debut.  I am not a wrestler though.  I am merely a commentator with All American Pro Wrestling.  But recently, I was signed to a match against Mike Masters.  It's not a common practice, but we've seen plenty of wrestlers become announcers.  I know I'm obviously not going to be the first announcer to step through the ropes and prepare for battle.

The first time I remember it happening was in the 1980's.  "Mean" Gene Okerlund did interviews during WWF Superstars and other shows for the company.  He was a big time Hulkamanic too.  So when Mr. Fuji and George "the Animal" Steele challenged Hulk Hogan and Okerlund to a match, Gene reluctantly said yes.

If my memory serves me correct, I think this was a direct release to Coliseum Home Video.  Before the match, they should Hogan and Okerlund training together.  They were "hanging and banging" in the gym and at one point, I believe Mean Gene carries Hogan on his back up a flight of steps.  The match is basically Hogan vs. the heels, until Gene is accidentally tagged in during a high five montage.  His time in the ring was brief and he pretty much avoided any kind of contact.  The faces win after Gene thwarts Mr. Fuji's salt toss attempt and kicks him in the gut.  Hogan slams his partner on top of the laid out heel and pushes down on his back for extra leverage.

The Fink vs. Harvey Wippleman

In the 1990's legendary ring announcer Howard Finkel engaged in a series of tuxedo matches with manager Harvey Wippleman.  The object of course is to strip your opponent from their tux.  The contact was limited in the contests, and the two looked like a couple of kids in a school yard rolling around.  Of course the stripping of the two was not exactly pleasant for viewers.  Nearly 20 years later, I still don't understand the motivation for this feud or the need for such a match.

JR. vs. Michael Cole (from WWE.com)

More recently Jim Ross has engaged in battle wrestling Triple H, Tazz, and Jack Swagger among others.  Of course his feud with Michael Cole boiled over into the ring with JR and Jerry "the King" Lawler taking on Cole and Swagger in a tag team match, and the two going at it one on one as well.  My hat is off to JR (if I wore one) for his efforts.  He's not a wrestler by any means and considering the health issues he's had in the past, I commend him for stepping into the ring and doing battle.

Jonathan Coachman and JR had some battles too and of course he had matches with Stone Cold Steve Austin among others as well.  Eric Bischoff I guess also fits into this category of announcers becoming managers becoming wrestlers.

I think that's it though.  I'm racking my brain and I've checked a few online sources, but have come up short.  I don't recall Joey Styles, Tony Schiavone, or Mike Tenay ever wrestling.  Correct me if I'm wrong of course.  And please, wish me luck as I prepare for my match with Mike Masters on January 14th.