Joe Doering, Former AJPW Triple Crown Champion, Passes Away at 44 After Third Battle With Brain Cancer

Joe Doering, one of the most physically imposing foreign stars to make his name in All Japan Pro Wrestling, has died at the age of 44 following his third battle with brain cancer. His passing was announced by Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling — the promotion run by Scott D’Amore — which shared that Doering died peacefully, surrounded by his family.

Doering built a reputation in Japan as a hard-hitting powerhouse, reaching the pinnacle of All Japan when he captured the prestigious Triple Crown Championship. The title has been held by some of the most celebrated names in the history of Japanese professional wrestling, making Doering’s reign a testament to the level he reached as a performer working far from home.

His career was ultimately derailed not by anything that happened inside the ring, but by a devastating diagnosis: brain cancer. The illness forced him away from active competition, and the final chapter of his life became a prolonged and courageous fight against the disease. That he faced it a third time speaks to just how relentless and cruel his battle was.

Doering was 44 years old. For a performer who gave so much in the ring and fought so hard outside of it, the outpouring of grief from the wrestling community in the wake of this news is entirely expected. He leaves behind the legacy of a genuinely beloved figure in the world of puroresu — a tough, dedicated worker who earned his place among All Japan’s champions the hard way.

Condolences to his family, friends, and everyone whose life he touched.