Wrestler Benjamin Satterley dies at 40
The match was notable not only because it was PAC's final appearance in the ring, but also because of how suddenly his death followed it.
Popular British professional wrestler Benjamin Satterley, better known by his ring name PAC and formerly as Neville/Adrian Neville in WWE, has passed away at the age of 40, the US-based wrestling promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW) announced yesterday night (27 September).
The shocking announcement came just a day after PAC competed in his final match at AEW All Out in Chicago, where he challenged Andrade El Ídolo for the AEW National Championship.
AEW, in a statement, said it was "saddened to announce the passing" of Satterley and described him as a wrestler known for his innovative high-flying moves and in-ring ability. The promotion said Satterley, a native of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, began his wrestling career in 2004 and went on to perform for wrestling organisations around the world.
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No cause or circumstances of his death had been publicly disclosed as of today (28 September). Several reports confirmed that details surrounding his death remained unavailable.
PAC's shocking death came shortly after he appeared at AEW's All Out event on 26 September. In the opening match of the main card, he faced Andrade El Ídolo for the AEW National Championship.
PAC delivered a series of high-impact moves, including a 450 splash and an attempted Black Arrow, which are his signature wrestling moves, before Andrade countered and retained the title by pinning him.
The match was notable not only because it was PAC's final appearance in the ring, but also because of how suddenly his death followed it.
Born Benjamin Satterley, PAC began wrestling professionally in 2004 and established himself on the British independent circuit before gaining international recognition. He also worked in promotions including Pro Wrestling Guerrilla and Dragon Gate, where his aerial wrestling style helped build his reputation as one of the prominent high-flyers of his generation.
He joined the world's biggest wrestling promotion, WWE, in 2012 and performed under the name Adrian Neville. During his WWE tenure, he became NXT Champion and later captured the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.
His WWE run made him widely known among mainstream wrestling audiences, particularly for his athletic style and signature high-flying offence.
PAC became one of AEW's early signings after the promotion was launched in 2019. He went on to win multiple championships in the company and became part of several prominent storylines and matches. AEW credited him with competing in some of the promotion's memorable bouts since joining the organisation.
He was also a member of the AEW wrestling stable Death Riders, a group centred around Jon Moxley. At All Out, PAC was involved beyond his singles match as the Death Riders remained part of the wider event storyline.
AEW's official All Out report described PAC and Andrade's contest as a high-level opening match, with both wrestlers exchanging a series of reversals and aerial wrestling manoeuvres.
News of PAC's death prompted an outpouring of tributes from the professional wrestling community, with fellow wrestlers and fans remembering his distinctive wrestling style and lengthy career across the United Kingdom, Japan, WWE and AEW.
