Benjamin Satterley, the British wrestler known worldwide as PAC in All Elite Wrestling and Neville in WWE, has died at the age of 40. AEW confirmed his passing on September 27, 2026, less than 24 hours after he competed at the All Out pay-per-view in Chicago. No cause of death has been provided.
Satterley’s final match took place on September 26, 2026, at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, where he lost to Andrade El Idolo in a bout for the AEW National Championship. He appeared again later that night during the main event between Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay, involved in a storyline with the Death Riders faction.
When Did PAC Leave WWE?
Satterley stopped competing for WWE in late 2017 following a contract dispute. His departure was officially finalized in August 2018, when his contract expired and he became a free agent. WWE had frozen his contract after he chose not to appear at events, which delayed his exit by several months.
He joined WWE in 2012 and spent six years with the company. During that time, he wrestled under the names Adrian Neville and later simply Neville. He became NXT Champion, a two-time NXT Tag Team Champion, and a two-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion. His first cruiserweight title reign lasted over 190 days, a mark that ranked third all-time when the belt was discontinued in 2022.
After leaving WWE, Satterley returned to the independent circuit and joined Dragon Gate in Japan before signing with AEW in 2019 as one of the promotion’s first major signings.
Career Before WWE and Rise on the Indies
Satterley was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, and began his wrestling career in 2004 at around age 18. He trained under Mark Sloan at the Independent Wrestling Foundation (IWF) and quickly built a name on the British independent scene.
He competed for promotions including 3 Count Wrestling (3CW), One Pro Wrestling (1PW), and Real Quality Wrestling, among others. By 2006, he was wrestling across the United States and Europe, including for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) in California and Dragon Gate in Japan.
AEW Career and Championships
Satterley signed with AEW in 2019 and became one of the promotion’s most respected veterans over nearly eight years. He held multiple championships, including the inaugural AEW All-Atlantic Championship in 2022, which later became the AEW International Championship.
He was also a two-time AEW World Trios Champion. His first trios title came alongside Rey Fenix and Penta El Zero M as part of the Death Triangle faction. He won the title again in 2024 with Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta at Wembley Stadium in London.
Satterley had wrestled 147 matches for AEW, with 94 wins, 47 losses, and four draws, according to the AEW website. He was part of the Death Riders faction in the final months of his career.
Tributes from the Wrestling World
AEW President Tony Khan paid tribute on X, writing that Satterley “defined excellence” as a husband, friend, and in his wrestling knowledge, skill, and athleticism. “May Ben rest in peace,” Khan wrote.
Will Ospreay, a fellow British wrestler in AEW, called Satterley “the greatest export from our country. Also the greatest human being”. Paul Heyman, a WWE Hall of Famer, described his death as a “truly terrible loss” and called him a “tremendous talent and even finer human being”.
Nick Wayne, the youngest champion in AEW history, recalled Satterley’s advice and encouragement in 2024, writing that his “conversations, advice, and positive thoughts going into things is something I always cherished”.
Satterley’s death comes just weeks after another AEW wrestler, Andy Williams, known as The Butcher, died at 48 after collapsing at an independent match in Pennsylvania.
Final Match Details
Satterley’s last match took place at AEW All Out on September 26, 2026. He faced Andrade El Idolo in the opening match of the pay-per-view for the AEW National Championship. After the match, which he lost, Andrade offered him a handshake in the ring.
He later appeared in the main event segment involving the Death Riders and the AEW World Championship match between Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay.
AEW announced his passing on Sunday night, September 27, 2026, stating the company was “saddened to announce the passing of Benjamin Satterley, aka Pac”. The promotion noted that Satterley began his career in 2004 and performed for wrestling organizations worldwide.
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Global Reaction and Official Statements
The BBC reported that Satterley’s representatives confirmed his death. New Japan Pro-Wrestling said it was “deeply saddened” by the news, noting his time with the promotion.
Satterley also wrestled for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre in Mexico during his career. His death has drawn reactions from fans and peers across the global wrestling community, with many expressing shock at the sudden loss.
No funeral or memorial details have been announced at this time.
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