Benjamin 'PAC' Satterley Passes Away At 40 Years Old (AEW News)
The wrestling world reacts to the tragic news of PAC's passing.
The pro wrestling world is in shock at the tragic news that Benjamin Satterley, better known to fans as PAC, has passed away at the age of just 40.
AEW announced this awful news late last night, with PAC having passed away on Sunday.
All Elite Wrestling is saddened to announce the passing of Benjamin Satterley, aka Pac. 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… pic.twitter.com/uqzO371t2V— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) September 28, 2026
A truly generational, game-changing talent who would influence and help shape the career of so many others, Satterley began working for backyard promotions in the North East of England by the time he was 16, eventually taking on the PAC moniker in 2004 as he started to compete on the wider British independent scene and into Europe. There, he'd face upcoming UK names like Sheamus O'Shaunessy, Drew Galloway, Spud, Martin Stone, and Jody Fleisch, and battle international prospects like AJ Styles, Kevin Steen, El Generico, Tommy End, and Claudio Castagnoli
2006 saw PAC make his debut for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, and it was with PWG, Dragon Gate, and Dragon Gate USA where his star continued to rise, marking him out as one of the most innovative wrestlers on the planet. And so, in 2012, Satterley signed with WWE and landed in NXT as Adrian Neville, where he and Oliver Grey would become the inaugural NXT Tag Team Champions. After further Tag Team Title success with Corey Graves, Neville would branch out into the singles ranks and defeat Bo Dallas for the NXT Championship, ahead of moving to the WWE main roster in 2015, where he'd eventually lead the company's relaunched cruiserweight division as the King of the Cruiserweights, becoming a two-time Cruiserweight Champion.
The summer of 2018 saw Neville depart WWE, revert to the PAC moniker, and have a short spell back in Dragon Gate before becoming one of AEW's first signees when Tony Khan's promotion launched in early 2019. From a singles act to Death Triangle, to the Death Riders, and plenty, plenty more, PAC became a pivotal part of AEW across the next seven years, always delivering excellent in-ring performances and evolving his character as the Bastard, being the first-ever AEW All-Atlantic Champion and winning the AEW Trios Championships twice. As had been the case throughout the years, the Geordie could forever be relied upon to steal the show on any given night, and he was most recently in action as of this past Saturday, where he lost to AEW National Champion Andrade el Idolo.
As the wrestling world reacts to this utterly tragic news, here are some of the tributes to an exceptional professional wrestler and, more importantly, somebody who, from those who knew him, was an exceptional human being.
Benjamin Satterley defined excellence, as a beloved husband & friend to his many loved ones, + in his wrestling knowledge, skill, unprecedented athleticism, professionalism, consistency + dedication to the sport that he loved & traveled the world to pursue. May Ben rest in peace.— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) September 28, 2026
The greatest export from our country.
Also the greatest human being.Honoured to have shared the ring with you so many times.
You truly are such a hero to myself and many others.
Forever our BASTARD ?
RIP Pac https://t.co/k8rLlzHNaK pic.twitter.com/ZolPOTy3e8Advertisement— Will Ospreay • ウィル・オスプレイ (@WillOspreay) September 28, 2026
To many, he was a bastard.
To my kids, he was Ben - who brought them Kinder Eggs from the UK, who converted them to Newcastle fans.
— Bryce Remsburg (@dabryceisright) September 28, 2026
To me, he was an incredible friend for 20 years. Watching a Black Arrow from inside the ring still takes my breath away.
The best of us. ? https://t.co/D0U7w0omPk pic.twitter.com/AYfqaWOH9f
The best lad…
We love you. pic.twitter.com/Ch6mpFvwxA
Advertisement— Kevin (@FightOwensFight) September 28, 2026
My bastard brother ? where did you go? pic.twitter.com/owvYhkmaUa— Marina Shafir (@MarinaShafir) September 28, 2026
I am in shock. This is heartbreaking. We have lost another great person, a great soul, a true professional.
My condolences to his wife and family. RIP Ben https://t.co/XJk2MWrmg0
Advertisement— EVIL UNO of DARK ORDER ?? (@EvilUno) September 28, 2026
Feeling sick. Such an amazing human. Sending love to everyone ? https://t.co/0elIrzlHRg— Anna Jay (@annajay___) September 28, 2026
突然の訃報であまりにもショックが大きいです。
彼が運転するレンタカーで一緒に食料を買いに行ったり、ランドリーに洗濯しに行ったり、車内で沢山プロレスの話をしたり。。
お互いに“いつか試合したいね”と語り合っていました。
本当に残念です。Rest in peace, my friend. https://t.co/Z329vBtWty
— 柴田勝頼 / Katsuyori Shibata (@K_Shibata2022) September 28, 2026
Absolutely heartbreaking. My heart goes out to his family, friends and all of AEW. ??✝️❤️ https://t.co/ELYbgHAdLx— Hurricane Helms (@ShaneHelmsCom) September 28, 2026
This hurts? https://t.co/vhFzHuaaDs— Blackheart Lio Rush ? (@IamLioRush) September 28, 2026
Quite honestly the nicest person and most giving performer I’ve ever met?
This was my favorite picture of us. I came across it the other day and re-saved it and planned to repost it as a memory. I kept putting it off and never got around to it.
Ben is the best. https://t.co/esXTj33ERk pic.twitter.com/ndacD9kWC2Advertisement— The Aswang TJP? (@MegaTJP) September 28, 2026
I’m stunned…..idk what to say. I JUST saw him. My heart is fucking breaking, man. RIP PAC ? https://t.co/TMTccppGYv— HYAN ハイアン (@_thehyan) September 28, 2026
So very stunned by this. Gone far too early. I’m so fortunate to have known you, Ben. Already, I miss you terribly.
??❤️ https://t.co/TDUGEuDEaG— Christopher Daniels (@facdaniels) September 28, 2026
Every success I had with AEW is because of him. He got me work during Covid. Meeting @TonyKhan at a revpro show. my first PPV. The vignettes. He helped me pay my rent when I couldn’t.
I have so many stories to tell and he’d hate if I told any.
— Beyond Gorilla - Robyn Goding (@BeyondGorilla_) September 28, 2026
He was my friend. I’m heartbroken. https://t.co/LywBVN3Hjp pic.twitter.com/FYAxons9wa
I know him as Neville, worked w: him for years & I was always blown away by his athleticism & professionalism!!! What a class act & wow I am in shock .. ? This world lost a good one.. but legends never die… - rest well my friend … I know you are wrestling above ? https://t.co/CmArkc3s4M— Ash By Elegance (@Ashamae_Sebera) September 28, 2026
He was the man. One of the most influential highfliers ever. And an amazing human being. It was a privilege getting to know you.? https://t.co/LZS0ZdnCuU— Zachary Wentz (@ZacharyWentz) September 28, 2026
You see people praising PAC’s wrestling ability. For those of you who never got to meet him. Think about how good of wrestler he was all the things he could do and achieved. He was an even better human being. That’s why he was the best of us.
RIP Ben? https://t.co/U2DRFyIF9t
Advertisement— Blake Christian ブレイク・クリスチャン (@_BlakeChristian) September 28, 2026
At a time in my career where I was very unsure of myself and my abilities I had a match with Pac and he pulled me aside afterward and talked me up and told me how good he thought I was. I thought, if this guy, who is legit one of the best in the world, thinks I’m good then I must… https://t.co/A7KLOLoDzU— “All Attitude” Alan Angels (@Alan_V_Angels) September 28, 2026
Hearing about PAC passing away at only 40 years old is one of those moments that really makes you stop and think.
A tremendous wrestler, an incredible athlete, and a real gem of a human being.First time I watched him wrestle I was speechless. https://t.co/5JyfwoFG1H
— Ricky Morton (@RealRickyMorton) September 28, 2026
Fuck man.. this is terrible. For everyone that knew Ben (pac) would tell you what an incredible human he was. Truly one of the best. This is heartbreaking.. sending so much love to his family and everyone else who was lucky enough to know him personally and to all who got to…— SARAYA (@Saraya) September 28, 2026
I am so sad to hear this news. Pac was always so respectful and kind to me, especially during his time at NXT when he and TJ were working a lot together. I’ll always remember how passionate Pac was about wrestling, but equally, how much respect he showed everyone around him.… https://t.co/5oojjqiVoc pic.twitter.com/ZyEQKAitsm— Nattie (@NatbyNature) September 28, 2026
One of the best in every way possible. ? pic.twitter.com/QJNWNVEb9X— Rebecca Quin (@BeckyLynchWWE) September 28, 2026
Oh no.
No no no no no no no.
What a tremendous talent and even finer human being. My most profound condolences to all who knew him. A truly terrible loss! pic.twitter.com/IOhCPepdRkAdvertisement— Paul Heyman (@HeymanHustle) September 28, 2026
What a tragic day.
What an extremely talented person. Speechless…
RIP PAC.— RheaRipley_WWE (@RheaRipley_WWE) September 28, 2026
Just a heartbreaking day. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of PAC. May he rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/Nb49kBdilD— The Miz (@mikethemiz) September 28, 2026
PAC - one of the kindest, most welcoming people in a locker room. Rest in peace.— Danhausen (@DanhausenAD) September 28, 2026
PAC is one of my favorite wrestlers of all time. I was lucky enough to meet my hero, work with my hero, but even more lucky to get to know him. He was a better man than I ever could have hoped for.
I am heartbroken.
— “Protostar” Kyle Fletcher (@kylefletcherpro) September 28, 2026
I love you, Ben. Rest easy mate.
My best friend has passed on, I am absolutely in shock. My prayers are with his wife and family.
Ben, I love you.
I’m going to miss you Pac, thank you for being a friend.Advertisement— REAL1 (FKA Enzo Amore) (@real1) September 28, 2026
From all of us here at WhatCulture Wrestling, we send our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Benjamin Satterley. May he rest well.