Pro wrestler Joe Doering has died at age 44 following a lengthy battle with brain cancer.
“We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Joe Doering,” TNA Wrestling announced via X on Friday, June 26. “A commanding in-ring performer and a wonderful person, he will never be forgotten. We offer our deepest condolences to his fans, his friends and his family.
Doering worked for TNA Wrestling on and off between 2005 and 2022 and was a former co-holder of the TNA World Tag Team Championships on two occasions.
The wrestler battled health issues for the past decade. Doering was originally diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016, forcing him to pull out of competing in All Japan Pro Wrestling’s Champion Carnival tournament at the time.
While he made his comeback to the ring in early 2017, Doering once again had to step away from the sport in 2022 after a recurrence of cancer. By December 2025, it was reported that he had been diagnosed with a third brain tumor. (He also suffered from ataxia, which impacted the voluntary coordination of his muscles.)
His sister-in-law, Mandy Banh, launched a GoFundMe to help support Doering through his treatment, with the fundraiser earning more than $22,000, as per publication. On Monday, June 22, Banh confirmed that Doering was entering hospice care.
“Sad to share the news that Joe is heading to hospice soon,” she wrote. “If anyone is local & would want to visit, please send a message. Joe could use all your good thoughts & prayers.”
On Friday, Banh announced “with great sadness” that Doering “passed away peacefully this morning.”
“He was comfortable and not in any pain,” she noted. “Please keep Joe’s family and friends in your thoughts during this difficult time. Thank you all for your love, support, and kindness — it has meant so much to us. We love you, Joe. You will be forever in our hearts and deeply missed.”
Doering primarily made his name wrestling in Japan and the American independent pro wrestling scene, though he did briefly have a developmental contract with WWE in 2010. In All Japan Pro Wrestling, he held the prestigious Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship twice and the World Tag Team Championship on four occasions.
His former TNA Wrestling rival Josh Alexander was among those to pay tribute to Doering following his death. Doering wrestled one his final matches against Alexander in TNA in 2022.
“Joe always was a professional. A class act and one hell of a wrestler. I left that match sore as s*** but proud,” Alexander, 39, recalled via X on Friday. “It’s a strange feeling being both honoured and sad to have been the one that he closed out his career with. I’m just fortunate to have known him both in and out of the ring.”
He concluded, “He fought cancer for so long. I can only hope that now he can finally rest.”
Former TNA Wrestling star Sami Callihan described Doering as a “a throwback to a different era” in pro wrestling.
“He was funny, exuded respect, and was everyone’s big brother that he connected with,” Callihan, 38, tweeted on Friday. “I will forever cherish the time I got to spend around him. Prayers and positive energy to his family and loved ones. God Bless.”
