AEW wrestling star Benjamin Satterley, known as Pac, dies at 40
By Jessie Yeung, CNN
(CNN) — Benjamin Satterley, an English wrestling star known by his ring name Pac, has died at 40, according to All Elite Wrestling.
“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,” said AEW in its announcement Sunday night.
“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,” it said, extending condolences to his family, friends and fans.
He previously wrestled for WWE under the ring name Neville, and became known for his aerial attacks and explosive style – earning himself nicknames like “King of the Cruiserweights” and “The Man That Gravity Forgot.”
The circumstances and cause of his death were not provided.
The announcement came just a day after Satterley wrestled a match at AEW’s “All Out” pay-per-view event near Chicago, going up against Andrade El Ídolo.
During his acclaimed career, Satterley made history as the inaugural AEW All-Atlantic Champion in 2022 before the title changed to the AEW International Championship. He was also an acclaimed AEW World Trios Champion, winning the championship alongside teammates Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta in front of tens of thousands of fans at Wembley Stadium in his home country in 2024.
Satterley’s death comes just a few weeks after another AEW wrestler, Andy Williams, known professionally as The Butcher, died after collapsing at an independent match in Pennsylvania, according to AEW. He was 48.
Tributes for Satterley have poured in from fans and peers in the wrestling world.
Fellow AEW wrestler Nick Wayne, the youngest champion in AEW history, recalled speaking with Satterley in 2024 after watching him in a match. Satterley’s “conversations, advice, and positive thoughts going into things is something I always cherished,” Wayne wrote on X. “PAC is one of the greatest innovators and Professional Wrestlers to ever do it.”
Will Ospreay, also an English wrestler signed with AEW, who has faced Satterley many times in the ring, posted on X that Satterley was “the greatest export from our country. Also the greatest human being.”
Since joining AEW in 2019, Satterley had wrestled in 147 matches, with 94 wins, 47 losses, and four draws, according to the AEW website.
He also wrestled for Japanese promotions Dragongate and New Japan Pro-Wrestling, as well as the Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. After the news of his death, New Japan said it was “deeply saddened” by his passing, expressing its sympathies for his friends and family.
CMLL also expressed its condolences, writing on X it will “remember his extraordinary professionalism, dedication, and respect in every appearance in Mexico.”
AEW is a partner of Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of CNN.
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