The wrestling world is now paying tribute to Joe Doering after his passing, and the messages are hitting hard.
Doering passed away on June 26, 2026, at 9:13 a.m. after nearly ten years of battling brain cancer. Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling confirmed that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. He was only 44 years old.
“At 9:13 a.m. today, June 26, our brother Joe Doering passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family. Though his time on this earth lasted only 44 years, Joe packed a thousand years’ worth of living into every one of them.”
Doering’s passing came just days after his family shared that he was preparing to enter hospice care. His sister-in-law, Mandy Banh, had revealed on his GoFundMe page that he was battling his third brain tumor after first being diagnosed in 2016. His 2022 brain stem surgery also left him with ataxia on his right side, badly affecting his mobility and leaving him mostly reliant on a wheelchair.
Now, those who knew him are remembering the man behind the fighter. Josh Alexander shared a deeply emotional tribute, revealing that he wrestled Doering’s final match on July 1, 2022, and later realized Doering may have already known something was wrong at the time.
“July 1 2022 I wrestled what would be Joe Doering’s last match. A month prior I’d noticed something was off with Joe. But it never crossed my mind that his cancer might have returned. In my mind he’d already faced that battle and won.”
Alexander said Doering never held back in that match, even though he may have been dealing with serious pain or discomfort. He remembered asking Doering to lay his offense in hard, and Doering did exactly that.
“When it came time for the match he was down for everything. Angle slam off the apron to the floor? Let’s do it. Superplex? He was down. We had a 20+ main event title match on ppv. I can’t imagine the pain or discomfort he was feeling at the time. But in true Joe fashion he was an absolute warrior.
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. ❤️Joe”
Frankie Kazarian kept his tribute short, but powerful: “RIP Joe Doering. I’m glad I knew you. Godspeed.” TNA also paid tribute to Doering, remembering him as both a dominant wrestler and a wonderful person.
“We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Joe Doering. 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.”
Gail Kim also remembered Doering as a gentle giant: “Thinking of Joe Doering today, his family & loved ones who will miss him terribly ….. always a gentle giant 💕 RIP Joe 🙏❤️” AEW joined the wrestling world in mourning Doering’s passing as well.
“AEW and the wrestling world mourn the passing of Joe Doering. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family, friends and fans during this difficult time.”
Doering built a career that earned respect across the globe. He had a brief WWE developmental run in 2010, became a two-time Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion in All Japan Pro Wrestling, and later joined TNA in 2020 as part of Violent By Design.
The tributes make one thing very clear: Joe Doering was not just respected for what he did in the ring. He was loved for who he was outside of it. After fighting brain cancer for nearly a decade, Doering leaves behind a legacy of toughness, kindness, and quiet strength.
What is your favorite Joe Doering memory? Please share your thoughts and tributes in the comments below.
