The entire world of professional wrestling is now in mourning following the sudden passing of Benjamin Satterley, the English performer who was best known as Pac in All Elite Wrestling and as Neville when he was with WWE. It was confirmed on Sunday night by AEW that Satterley had died at the age of 40; however, the cause of death has not been made public.
A Shocking Loss Just Hours After All Out
The announcement was made less than 24 hours after Satterley took part in AEW’s All Out pay-per-view close to Chicago; in the first match on Saturday, September 26, he faced off against AEW National Champion Andrade El Ídolo in a match which was highly praised and which many currently think was his last in the ring.
The statement from AEW said that Satterley was a native of Newcastle upon Tyne and that he started his career in wrestling in 2004 before going on to wrestle all over the world, giving audiences great excitement through his innovative high-flying moves and outstanding in-ring psychology. The company also offered its condolences to his family, friends and fans.
A Decorated Career Across WWE, AEW and Japan
Before he joined AEW in 2019, Satterley had been in WWE for six years under the name Neville, where his dynamic style earned him nicknames such as “King of the Cruiserweights” and “The Man That Gravity Forgot”. He won the cruiserweight title more than once and was generally considered to be one of the top aerialists of his generation.
In AEW he soon established himself as a key figure in the men’s division. In 2022 he made history by becoming the first ever AEW All-Atlantic Champion (the title was later rebranded as the AEW International Championship) and was also a highly regarded AEW World Trios Champion. In 2024 he won the trios titles together with Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta before a crowd of tens of thousands at Wembley Stadium in his home country.
International Wrestling Career
Abroad, Satterley earned a solid reputation in Japan by taking part in Dragongate and New Japan Pro-Wrestling and he frequently appeared for Mexico’s Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). Statements were issued by both NJPW and CMLL in which they expressed their deep sorrow and lauded his professionalism and respect.
The official records of AEW show that Satterley wrestled 147 matches for the promotion from 2019, earning 94 wins, 47 losses and four draws.
Tributes From Peers and Fans
Immediately after the news was released, tributes started to come in. Nick Wayne of AEW, who is the youngest champion in the company’s history, said that he had always valued Satterley’s advice and positive attitude after having watched him compete in 2024, describing him as “one of the greatest innovators and Professional Wrestlers to ever do it.”
Will Ospreay, who is also one of the top British stars in AEW, called Satterley “the greatest export from our country and the greatest human being”. Messages expressing their sorrow and respect also arrived from Paul Heyman, Rhea Ripley and many other people in the industry.
A Second Loss for AEW in Weeks
The death of Satterley comes after another recent tragedy has occurred within the wrestling world; Andy Williams, who was known as The Butcher and was an AEW performer, died at the age of 48 following a collapse at an independent event in Pennsylvania. This series of deaths has left fans and fellow workers struggling to come to terms with the fragility of life in a job that is physically demanding.
What We Know and What Remains Unknown
At this time, no information has been made public regarding the circumstances or cause of Satterley’s death. AEW has given no further details other than confirming his death and expressing its condolences. Fans and other wrestlers are paying tribute to his legacy by posting clips of his most memorable matches and remembering his impact on a generation of high-flyers.
To many people Pac will be known not only for his awards but also for his hard work, technical accuracy and the fact that he always tried to improve each of his opponents. Over the course of a career which lasted more than twenty years he made a lasting impact on wrestling from Newcastle to Tokyo, Mexico City and elsewhere.
