Pro wrestler Joe Doering died at age 44 after a lengthy fight with brain cancer. TNA Wrestling announced his passing on June 26, and his family revealed he entered hospice shortly before his death.
Pro wrestler Joe Doering’s health battle ended quietly, but the impact was immediate and widespread across the wrestling world.
Doering died at age 44 after a lengthy battle with brain cancer. TNA Wrestling announced his passing via X on Friday, June 26.
“We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Joe Doering,” the promotion wrote. “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 he previously co-held the TNA World Tag Team Championships on two occasions. For the past decade. health issues increasingly shaped his career and life. starting with a diagnosis that forced him off the road at the height of competition.
He was originally diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016. which led him to pull out of competing in All Japan Pro Wrestling’s Champion Carnival tournament at the time. He made his comeback to the ring in early 2017, but the fight returned. In 2022, he once again had to step away from the sport 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, an issue that impacted the voluntary coordination of his muscles.
The news of his death followed a difficult stretch that became public through his family’s efforts to keep him supported. His sister-in-law, Mandy Banh, launched a GoFundMe to help support Doering through treatment, and the fundraiser earned more than $22,000.
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.”
Then, on Friday, Banh announced “with great sadness” that Doering “passed away peacefully this morning.”
“He was comfortable and not in any pain,” she added. “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 made his name primarily 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 final chapter included a familiar opponent. Doering wrestled one of his final matches against Josh Alexander in TNA in 2022.
Alexander paid tribute after the news broke on Friday, posting on X: “Joe always was a professional. A class act and one hell of a wrestler. I left that match sore as s*** but proud,” the 39-year-old recalled. “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 fought cancer for so long. I can only hope that now he can finally rest.”
Sami Callihan, a former TNA Wrestling star, also remembered Doering as someone cut from a different cloth.
“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.”
Across the ring and beyond it, the same themes kept coming up—professionalism, warmth, and the kind of presence that lingers even after the lights go out.
Joe Doering TNA Wrestling brain cancer hospice Josh Alexander Sami Callihan All Japan Pro Wrestling Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship TNA World Tag Team Championship
Damn 44 is way too young.
I didn’t realize it was brain cancer like that. The wording makes it sound like it just “came back” over and over… hospice is just so sad man.
So wait, they said 2016 tumor then 2017 comeback then 2022 recurrence then another tumor by Dec 2025… isn’t that like 3 different times? Also ataxia sounds like something else but I guess it’s all connected. Wrestling is brutal.
This is heartbreaking. I saw people blaming wrestling head injuries for stuff like this, but the article just says brain tumor/cancer so idk. Either way I’m glad his family had a GoFundMe and it hit $22k. Still feels weird to hear it “ended quietly” like… money and hospice are both quiet but it’s still so loud when it’s someone you watched on TV.