AEW’s Benjamin ‘PAC’ Satterley Dies Hours After Live PPV Match – See Tributes

Martin Holmes
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What To Know

  • All Elite Wrestling star Benjamin ‘PAC’ Satterley has died at the age of 40, with the cause of death not yet revealed.
  • Satterley achieved success in WWE as Adrian Neville and later became a prominent champion in AEW.
  • Tributes from across the wrestling world highlight Satterley’s professionalism, athleticism, and impact on colleagues and fans.

The wrestling world is in mourning following the shocking news that All Elite Wrestling star PAC, whose real name is Benjamin Satterley, has died at the age of 40. He died just hours after starring in a live pay-per-view event.

AEW’s official social media accounts confirmed the passing on Sunday (September 27), releasing an “in memoriam” graphic for the British-born grappler. Satterley was an original member of the AEW roster, signing with the company upon its launch in 2019. During his tenure, he held multiple championships and wrestled several high-profile matches.

“A native of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Satterley began his wrestling career in 2004 and went on to perform for wrestling organizations all over the world, captivating fans with innovative high-flying moves and incredible in-ring ability,” AEW’s official statement read.

It continued, “Pac signed with All Elite Wrestling in 2019 and held multiple AEW Championships and competed in some of the most memorable matches in AEW history. Our condolences go out to Satterley’s family, friends and fans.”

A cause of death has not yet been revealed.

Satterley wrestled in the opening bout of AEW’s All Out pay-per-view from Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday night (September 26), taking on Andrade El Idolo for the AEW National Championship. He later appeared during the show’s main event AEW World Championship match alongside his Death Riders teammates.

Born on August 22, 1986, in Newcastle, England, Satterley began his wrestling career in the British independent wrestling scene, quickly establishing himself as a must-see performer for his incredible athleticism and stunning aerial moves. He’d go on to ply his craft around the world, wrestling for American promotions such as Ring of Honor and PWG, as well as the Japanese promotion Dragongate.

His skills eventually caught WWE‘s attention, and he signed with the company in 2012. Satterley joined the NXT developmental brand, wrestling under the ring name Adrian Neville. He soon became one of the top stars of the brand, winning the NXT Tag Team Championships twice and the NXT Championship.

In 2015, he was promoted to the main roster, wrestling under the shortened ring name of Neville. Satterley made the relaunched cruiserweight division his home, winning the WWE Cruiserweight Championship twice and performing some of his best heel character work under the “King of the Cruiserweights” gimmick.

However, creative frustrations led Satterley to part ways with WWE in 2018. After a year sitting on the sidelines due to contractual restrictions, Satterley returned to Dragongate, once again performing under the ring name PAC and adopting “The Bastard” moniker.

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He left Dragongate in 2019 and signed with upstart company AEW, which began airing its weekly show Dynamite on TNT in October of that year. Sattarley was immediately positioned in top feuds with the likes of Hangman Adam Page and Kenny Omega. He later formed a faction with Penta El Zero M and Rey Fénix, known as the Death Triangle, with the group winning the AEW Trios Championships twice.

Satterley was also the inaugural AEW International Champion (then called the All-Atlantic Championship). He defended the title on AEW television and pay-per-view, as well as on independent promotions worldwide.

More recently, Satterley was a member of the Death Riders faction alongside four-time AEW World Champion Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Marina Shafir, and Daniel Garcia. Shafir learned of his passing while performing at the independent show Warrior Wrestling on Sunday night. After her match, she spoke to the crowd about the devastating news and reminded fans to tell their loved ones that they’re appreciated.

Satterley’s passing comes just weeks after fellow AEW star, Andy ‘The Butcher’ Williams, died after he collapsed following a match at an Enjoy Wrestling event.

Tributes also continue to pour in across the wrestling world, many of which you can read below.

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