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Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling announced that former All Japan Pro Wrestling Triple Crown Champion and TNA star Joe Doering has passed away following a long battle with brain cancer.
The announcement:
"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.
Joe is survived by his beloved wife, Lindsay, his family, and leaves behind countless friends and devoted fans around the world who will forever remember his strength, courage, and spirit.
Rest in peace, Joe. You will never be forgotten."
Doering's imposing presence, toughness, and resilience made him one of the most respected foreign stars to compete in Japan during his time there. Best known for his long tenure in All Japan Pro Wrestling, Doering became a two-time Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, joining a select group of non-Japanese wrestlers to hold the promotion's most prestigious title. Throughout his career, he also captured multiple World Tag Team Championships in AJPW and later won the Impact World Tag Team Championship as a member of Violent By Design in Impact Wrestling (now TNA).
After training under Scott D'Amore and making his professional debut in 2004, Doering competed in promotions around the world, including Puerto Rico's World Wrestling Council, WWE's developmental system (Florida Championship Wrestling), and TNA/Impact. He found his greatest success in Japan, where his hard-hitting style and partnership with stars such as Keiji Mutoh and Suwama established him as one of AJPW's top heavyweight competitors.
Doering's career was defined not only by championship success but also by remarkable perseverance and a toughness few humans could ever possess. In 2016, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent surgery, amazingly returning to the ring the following year to reclaim the AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship. After joining Impact Wrestling in 2020, he enjoyed his first real Stateside push as part of Eric Young's Violent By Design faction before stepping away in 2022 following a recurrence of his illness and additional brain surgery. He last wrestled in August 2022 but was greatly supported by those in pro wrestling through a GoFundMe launched to assist his family, which you can donate to at this link.
PWInsider.com sends our deepest condolences to Doering's family, friends and fans.
At 9:13 a.m. today, June 26, our brother Joe Doering passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family.
— MAPLE LEAF PRO Wrestling (@MapleLeafPW) June 26, 2026
Though his time on this earth lasted only 44 years, Joe packed a thousand years’ worth of living into every one of them.
Joe is survived by his beloved wife, Lindsay, his… pic.twitter.com/qlzBVLUuM3
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