All Elite Wrestling has announced the passing of Benjamin Satterley, known to wrestling fans in AEW as PAC and in WWE as Adrian Neville.
“All Elite Wrestling is saddened to announce the passing of Benjamin Satterley, aka Pac,” the company said in a statement. “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. 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.”
Satterely first made a major name for himself on American television in NXT where his incredible athletic ability garnered him the name ‘The Man That Gravity Forgot,’ winning the NXT Championship and carrying the brand through the early stages of its television, culminating in an absolute classic with Sami Zayn. From there, his WWE run peaked as ‘The King of the Cruiserweights,’ becoming the most beloved Cruiserweight Champion of the second iteration of the belt, even as the top heel on 205 Live.
Satterley became an original member of All Elite Wrestling in 2019 under the name PAC, which was his ring name before signing with WWE in which he made his name under in promotions such as Dragon Gate. The run, which started with an early feud with Kenny Omega that helped AEW form its reputation as ‘where the best wrestle,’ saw him as the leader of Death Triangle and a member of the Death Riders, two of its most iconic groups, the latter of which he had been doing the last few years. But his AEW run goes beyond that, seeing as he had been the first All-Atlantic Champion, later becoming part of the International Championship lineage.
‘The Bastard’ gave professional wrestling fans memories for over 20 years of his life, and completely changed the hybrid style that professional wrestling fans had seen up to that point.
The details surrounding PAC’s untimely passing are currently unknown, especially seeing as he was just on television as recently as last night challenging Andrade for the National Championship. PAC had turned 40 last month.
DSR/CBC will keep you as up-to-date as possible.