- published: 18 Jan 2012
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Howard Finkel (born June 7, 1950) is a professional wrestling ring announcer working with WWE in a variety of roles. Hired in 1975 by Vincent J. McMahon's World Wide Wrestling Federation, "The Fink" was the first person brought in to Vincent K. McMahon's nascent World Wrestling Federation and is widely credited as WWE's first and longest lasting employee.
Finkel, a native of Newark, New Jersey, began announcing wrestling shows at Madison Square Garden in 1977. By 1979, he was hired as the first employee of WWE (formerly WWF), and he was made lead ring announcer for the WWF's biggest events. Across three decades, Finkel's distinctive voice was one of the trademarks of WWF programming, and was sometimes used in the packaged intros for the company's weekly programming. Finkel's signature call was his announcement of a new champion following a change in titles, in which he would place increased emphasis while stretching out the word "New" in order to draw the greatest reaction from the crowd. Finkel also suggested the well-known pay-per-view name "WrestleMania," (he got it from The Beatles' theme in the 1960s BeatleMania) which owner Vince McMahon immediately accepted. Finkel also came up with Ricky Steamboat's "Dragon" nickname.
Phillip Jack Brooks (born October 26, 1978), better known by his ring name CM Punk, is an American professional wrestler signed to WWE and appearing on its Raw brand as the reigning WWE Champion.
In professional wrestling, Brooks is a seven time World Champion, having held the ROH World Championship and ECW Championship once, the World Heavyweight Championship three times and the WWE Championship twice.
In addition to these championships Punk has also won the World Tag Team Championship (with Kofi Kingston), and the WWE Intercontinental Championship making him the nineteenth WWE Triple Crown Champion and the man to achieve this honor fastest at 203 days. Between WWE and Ring of Honor (where he is also a two-time World Tag Team Champion), Punk has won a total of eleven championships. He was also the winner of the 2008 and 2009 Money in the Bank ladder matches (the only wrestler to win the match twice in a row), and was the 2011 Superstar of the Year Slammy Award winner.
Punk initially came to prominence through his career on the professional wrestling independent circuit, primarily as a member of the ROH roster, where he was the first head trainer of the ROH wrestling school as well as winning both of their championships. In 2005, Punk signed a contract with WWE and was sent to its developmental promotion, Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), where he won every championship available in the promotion. Throughout his career, Punk has consistently used the gimmick of being straight edge, a lifestyle he follows in his actual day-to-day life. Depending on Punk's alignment as a crowd favorite or villain, he emphasizes different aspects of the culture to encourage the desired audience reaction.
Actors: Kurt Angle (actor), Terry Gerin (actor), Chris Benoit (actor), Steve Austin (actor), Shelton Benjamin (actor), Tony Chimel (actor), Mike Chioda (actor), Jonathan Coachman (actor), Michael Coulthard (actor), Matt Bloom (actor), Jack Doan (actor), Mark Calaway (actor), Howard Finkel (actor), Ric Flair (actor), Bill Goldberg (actor),
Plot: WWE Title: Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar, World Heavyweight Title: Triple H vs. Booker T, The Rock vs. Steve Austin, Hulk Hogan vs. Vince Mcmahon, WWE Women's Title: Victoria vs. Trish Stratus vs. Jazz, WWE Cruiserweight Title: Matt Hardy vs. Rey Misterio, WWE Tag Team Titles: Team Angle vs. Chris Benoit & Rhyno vs. Los Guerreros, The Undertaker & Nathan Jones vs. A-Train & The Big Show
Keywords: african-american, athletic-cheating, bad-guy, bare-butt, blood, brief-female-nudity, canadian, face-paint, female-wrestler, female-wrestlingActors: Matt Hardy (actor), Earl Hebner (actor), Adam Copeland (actor), Matt Bloom (actor), Jeff Hardy (actor), A.C. Connor (actor), Kurt Angle (actor), Michael Coulthard (actor), Solofa Fatu Jr. (actor), Howard Finkel (actor), Mick Foley (actor), Jonathan Coachman (actor), Nelson Frazier Jr. (actor), Sho Funaki (actor), Mark Henry (actor),
Plot: The WWF Royal Rumble battle Royal, with the winner recieving a WWF Title shot at Wrestlemania 2000, WWF Title (Street Fight) : Triple H vs. Cactus Jack, WWF Intercontinental Title: Chris Jericho vs. Chyna vs. Hardcore Holly, WWF Tag Team Titles: The New Age Outlaws vs. The Acolytes, Tables Match: The Hardy Boyz vs. The Dudley Boyz, Ms. Royal Rumble Bikini Contest: Mae Young vs. The Kat vs. BB vs. Ivory vs. Luna vs. Jacqueline vs. Terri
Keywords: big-man, bikini, blood, choke-hold, dancing, handcuffs, hit-with-a-chair, masked-wrestler, old-woman, olympic-gold-medalist