“A commanding in-ring performer and a wonderful person, he will never be forgotten,” Total Nonstop Action Wrestling said of Doering
Credit: Etsuo Hara/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Joe Doering, a former pro wrestling champion, died at 44 after complications from brain cancer on June 26, his family and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) announced
- The news comes after he was diagnosed with a third brain tumor and hospitalized in May after it continued to grow
- Doering was a decorated wrestler, known for his time in TNA and as an AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship
Retired pro wrestling star Joe Doering has died after complications from brain cancer. He was 44.
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) announced Doering’s death on social media on Friday, June 26.
“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,” TNA wrote in a tribute post.
Credit: Etsuo Hara/Getty
His family shared in a verified GoFundMe that he died at 9:13 a.m. on June 26 after being diagnosed with brain cancer nearly 10 years ago.
Mandy Banh, Doering’s sister-in-law, said that she started the fundraiser to help “alleviate some financial” burdens and raise funds for Doering’s treatment, including radiation and chemotherapy, after doctors found “a third brain tumor.”
While detailing the wrestler’s care, she noted that he had undergone brain surgery in 2022, after which he “developed ataxia” — or a lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements — on his right side, which “greatly impacted his mobility.”
Due to this, he began using a wheelchair and walker in his day-to-day life and needed assistance when going up or down stairs. Banh said that the wrestler “remained determined, focused, and most of all — in good spirits” as he continued treatments.
However, Doering’s health began to deteriorate in the last few months leading up to his death. In a GoFundMe update in May, the family noted that he was transported to the hospital via ambulance and CT scans showed that his brain tumor was “growing.” They said that doctors stopped chemotherapy and he was instead put on steroids.
In a June 22 update, they said that he was heading to “hospice,” a specialized form of medical care that focuses on comfort or patients with terminal illnesses who are nearing the end of life, per the Hospice Foundation.
Following his death, his family wrote, “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.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Doering began wrestling in 2004 and made several appearances in TNA and All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) in the subsequent years. He eventually was crowned the AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship, according to TNA.
In 2016, he was forced to leave wrestling in 2016 after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
Following the news of his death, several pro wrestlers paid tribute to Doering, including retired WWE wrestler Adam Pearce.
“Godspeed, Joe Doering. I didn’t have the good fortune of being around you, but things my friends have said make me wish I had,” Pearce, 48, wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the late wrestling star. “My heart goes out to his friends, family, and everyone affected. Rest well, sir. ❤️🙏.”
Read the full article here
