Benjamin Satterley (1986-2026) Professional Wrestler

Who Was Benjamin Satterley (Pac)?

Benjamin Willard Satterley (22 August 1986 – 27 September 2026), better known by his ring name Pac, was an English professional wrestler whose career spanned more than two decades and multiple continents. He was best known for his time in All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he was a member of the Death Riders, and in WWE, where he performed under the ring name Neville.

Satterley was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, the son of Stephen and Gill Satterley. He began wrestling at the age of 16 with backyard promotions before training professionally at St Joseph's Hall in Gateshead under Mark Sloan. He made his debut under the ring name Pac on 27 March 2004 at Independent Wrestling Federation, losing to Assassin.

Throughout his career, Satterley was noted for his high-flying style and aerial attacks, which earned him nicknames like "The Man That Gravity Forgot," "The King of the Cruiserweights," and later "The Bastard." His signature finishing move, a corkscrew shooting star press known as the Red Arrow (later the Black Arrow), became one of the most iconic moves in professional wrestling.

Pac Cause of Death: What We Know

The professional wrestling world was shocked on 27 September 2026 when All Elite Wrestling announced that Benjamin Satterley, known as Pac, had died at the age of 40. No cause of death was provided at the time of the announcement.

The news came just one day after Satterley wrestled a match at AEW's "All Out" pay-per-view event near Chicago, where he faced Andrade El Idolo for the AEW National Championship. His death also came just weeks after another AEW wrestler, Andy Williams, known professionally as The Butcher, died after collapsing at an independent match in Pennsylvania at the age of 48.

AEW said in its announcement: "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."

The organization added: "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."

As of the time of writing, the cause of death has not been publicly disclosed. Fans and wrestling peers have expressed shock at the news, with many taking to social media to share their memories and condolences.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Benjamin Satterley was born on 22 August 1986 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. By the age of 16, he had already begun wrestling with backyard promotions, including TWXW in Gateshead and FXW in Middlesbrough. Even as one of the younger wrestlers, his technical ability and athleticism ensured he stood out.

He started training professionally at the age of 18 at St Joseph's Hall in Gateshead, which he later described as "pretty much the only wrestling school in the area." He was trained by Mark Sloan and made his debut under the ring name Pac on 27 March 2004 at Independent Wrestling Federation.

For the first two years of his career, Satterley wrestled mainly for IWF and 3 Count Wrestling. He won his first championship on 26 August 2005 when he teamed up with Harry Pain. In 2006, he began wrestling across Britain and Europe, quickly building a reputation as one of the most exciting young talents in the country.

British Independent Circuit (2004–2012)

Satterley's early career saw him compete for numerous British promotions, including Real Quality Wrestling, One Pro Wrestling, and International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom. He became the first-ever Openweight Champion for One Pro Wrestling in November 2006.

In 2007, he began wrestling in Italy-based Nu-Wrestling Evolution under the ring name Jungle Pac, adopting a jungle native character. He also competed for American Wrestling Rampage during its European Invasion tour, winning the No Limits Championship.

During this period, Satterley also wrestled for Premier British Wrestling and British Championship Wrestling, establishing himself as one of the top independent wrestlers in the UK.

Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (2006–2008)

Satterley made his debut for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) on 17 November 2006, competing against A.J. Styles. The next night, he faced El Generico in a match that was considered a serious Match of the Year contender.

In 2007, Satterley partnered with Roderick Strong to win the first PWG Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament, defeating The Briscoe Brothers in the finals to become the new World Tag Team Champions. He also competed in the 2007 Battle of Los Angeles Tournament, reaching the semi-finals before losing to eventual winner Cima.

Dragon Gate and International Promotions (2007–2012)

Satterley's career took a major step forward when he was invited to Dragon Gate in Japan for their Dragon Storm 2007 tour. He was endorsed by Matt Sydal to replace him in the Typhoon faction, and quickly became a key member of the roster.

During his time in Dragon Gate, Satterley won the Open the Brave Gate Championship, Open the Twin Gate Championship, and Open the Triangle Gate Championship. He also became the inaugural Open the United Gate Champion for Dragon Gate USA alongside Masato Yoshino.

In 2012, Satterley made his New Japan Pro-Wrestling debut, competing in the Best of the Super Juniors tournament. He won his block with five wins out of eight matches, advancing to the semifinals before losing to Ryusuke Taguchi.

WWE Career (2012–2018)

In July 2012, it was reported that Satterley had signed a contract with WWE. He joined WWE's developmental territory NXT and made his television debut under the ring name Adrian Neville on 16 January 2013.

NXT Champion (2013–2014)

Together with Oliver Grey, Satterley won a tournament to crown the inaugural NXT Tag Team Champions. He later became the first man to hold both the NXT Championship and NXT Tag Team Championship.

At NXT Arrival in February 2014, Neville won the NXT Championship from Bo Dallas in a ladder match. He held the title for 287 days, becoming the longest-reigning NXT Champion of all time at that point. He lost the championship to Sami Zayn at NXT TakeOver: R Evolution in December 2014.

Cruiserweight Champion (2016–2017)

Satterley was promoted to WWE's main roster in March 2015 under the shortened ring name Neville. He began competing in the cruiserweight division in 2016 and became a record two-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion.

His first reign lasted 197 days, the longest in the title's history. He defeated Rich Swann at the Royal Rumble in January 2017 to win the championship for the first time, and later defeated Akira Tozawa at SummerSlam to win it for the second time.

Contract Dispute and Departure (2017–2018)

In October 2017, Satterley walked out on Raw, reportedly unhappy with his position in the company. WWE froze his contract in January 2018, and in August 2018 it was reported that he was no longer under contract.

Return to Dragon Gate (2018–2019)

Two months after his WWE contract expired, Satterley returned to Dragon Gate using his former ring name Pac. He aligned himself with the villainous R.E.D. stable and defeated Masato Yoshino to win the Open the Dream Gate Championship in December 2018.

He held the championship until July 2019, when he lost to Ben-K, ending his reign at 229 days.

All Elite Wrestling Career (2019–2026)

On 8 January 2019, Satterley was announced as one of the first signees to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He made his debut at AEW's inaugural rally in Jacksonville, interrupting Adam Page and setting up a feud between the two wrestlers.

Death Triangle (2020–2024)

In March 2020, Satterley formed an alliance with the Lucha Brothers (Penta El Zero M and Rey Fénix) called The Death Triangle. Together they won the AEW World Trios Championship.

Satterley also became the inaugural AEW All-Atlantic Champion in June 2022, defeating Miro, Malakai Black, and Clark Connors in a fatal four-way match. The title was later renamed the AEW International Championship.

Death Riders (2024–2026)

In August 2024, Satterley joined the Blackpool Combat Club, which later rebranded to the "Death Riders" alongside Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta. He won the AEW World Trios Championship for a second time with Castagnoli and Yuta.

During his time in the Death Riders, Satterley and his stablemates constantly interfered in Moxley's title defenses to help him win. His final match took place on 26 September 2026 at AEW All Out, where he faced Andrade El Idolo for the AEW National Championship.

Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (2024, 2026)

Satterley made his debut for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) in July 2024 alongside his Death Triangle stablemates. He returned to CMLL in August 2026 as part of Team World in the International Gran Prix, where he lasted until the final three before being eliminated by eventual winner Hechicero.

Professional Wrestling Style and Persona

Satterley was known for his high-flying style and aerial attacks. His signature finishing move was a corkscrew shooting star press, previously known as the Red Arrow and later the Black Arrow.

After turning into a villain in December 2016, he started using a double underhook crossface submission maneuver called the Rings of Saturn, later renamed the Brutalizer. During his independent career and the first part of his WWE run, he was known as "The Man That Gravity Forgot" due to his high-flying style.

After his heel turn and move to 205 Live, he became known as the "King of the Cruiserweights" and adopted the gimmick of a deluded man who referred to himself as a king. Upon leaving WWE, Pac tweaked his villainous character by dropping the "king" aspect and presenting himself as a self-proclaimed "bastard" with no morals or empathy.

Personal Life

Benjamin Satterley was married to Natalie Satterley. They married in 2015. He was a lifelong supporter of his hometown football club Newcastle United F.C. and a fan of British ska band The Specials.

He was a close friend of fellow professional wrestlers Bryan Danielson, Kenta, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Shingo Takagi, and Zack Sabre Jr.

Other Media

Satterley made his video game debut as a playable character in WWE 2K15 as Adrian Neville. He appeared as Neville in WWE 2K16, WWE 2K17, and WWE 2K18. He also features as Pac in AEW Fight Forever.

Championships and Accomplishments

Throughout his career, Satterley held numerous championships across multiple promotions.

Tributes and Legacy

Tributes for Satterley poured in from fans and peers in the wrestling world following the announcement of his death.

Fellow AEW wrestler Nick Wayne, the youngest champion in AEW history, recalled speaking with Satterley in 2024 after watching him in a match. "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, posted on X that Satterley was "the greatest export from our country. Also the greatest human being."

WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman described it as a "truly terrible loss" and said he was a "tremendous talent and even finer human being."

AEW President Tony Khan said he "defined excellence" as a husband, friend and in his wrestling knowledge, skill and "unprecedented athleticism."

Tom Campbell, a commentator from the Newcastle-based Cultaholic Wrestling YouTube channel, said Satterley was a North East legend and "one of one." He told BBC Radio Newcastle: "To be able to work with him and watch how incredible he is was something else. He was a Geordie lad that took on the entire wrestling world and has left a mark that will not be forgotten."

Conclusion: Remembering Benjamin Satterley (Pac)

Benjamin Willard Satterley, known to millions of wrestling fans as Pac, was one of the most innovative and exciting professional wrestlers of his generation. From his humble beginnings in Newcastle upon Tyne to the biggest stages in Japan, the United States, and Mexico, he captivated audiences with his high-flying style and incredible in-ring ability.

His death on 27 September 2026 at the age of 40 sent shockwaves through the wrestling world. He had wrestled just one day earlier, and his passing came just weeks after the death of fellow AEW wrestler Andy Williams. The cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.

Satterley's legacy lives on through his numerous championships, his unforgettable matches, and the tributes from those who knew him best. As Will Ospreay wrote: "The greatest export from our country. Also the greatest human being."

Frequently Asked Questions: Benjamin Satterley (Pac)

Who was Benjamin Satterley?

Benjamin Willard Satterley (22 August 1986 – 27 September 2026) was an English professional wrestler best known by his ring name Pac. He was a major star in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and previously performed in WWE under the ring name Neville. He was known for his high-flying style and aerial attacks, earning nicknames like "The Man That Gravity Forgot" and "The Bastard."

How did Pac die?

Pac died on 27 September 2026 at the age of 40. His death was announced by All Elite Wrestling. No cause of death was provided at the time of the announcement. He had wrestled a match just one day earlier at AEW's All Out event near Chicago. His death came just weeks after fellow AEW wrestler Andy Williams (The Butcher) also passed away.

What was Pac's cause of death?

The cause of Pac's death has not been publicly disclosed. AEW announced his passing on 27 September 2026 without providing details about the circumstances or cause. His death came just one day after he competed in a match at AEW's All Out pay-per-view event near Chicago. Fans and wrestling peers have expressed shock at the news.

What was Pac's WWE name?

In WWE, Pac performed under the ring name Adrian Neville, later shortened to simply Neville. He joined WWE's developmental territory NXT in 2012 and became the first man to hold both the NXT Championship and NXT Tag Team Championship. He was promoted to the main roster in 2015 and became a record two-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion.

What championships did Pac win?

Pac held numerous championships throughout his career. In AEW, he was the inaugural AEW All-Atlantic Champion (now International Championship) and a two-time AEW World Trios Champion. In WWE, he was a two-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion, one-time NXT Champion, and two-time NXT Tag Team Champion. In Dragon Gate, he won the Open the Dream Gate, Open the Brave Gate, Open the Twin Gate, and Open the Triangle Gate Championships.

When did Pac debut in professional wrestling?

Pac made his professional wrestling debut on 27 March 2004 at Independent Wrestling Federation, losing to Assassin. He began training at age 18 at St Joseph's Hall in Gateshead under Mark Sloan. He was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, on 22 August 1986.

What was Pac's wrestling style?

Pac was known for his high-flying style and aerial attacks. His signature finishing move was a corkscrew shooting star press, previously known as the Red Arrow and later the Black Arrow. He also used a double underhook crossface submission called the Rings of Saturn, later renamed the Brutalizer. His athleticism earned him the nickname "The Man That Gravity Forgot."

Who were Pac's teammates in AEW?

Pac was a member of the Death Triangle stable alongside Penta El Zero M and Rey Fénix. Together they won the AEW World Trios Championship. Later, he joined the Death Riders alongside Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta, winning the AEW World Trios Championship a second time.

Was Pac married?

Yes, Benjamin Satterley was married to Natalie Satterley. They married in 2015. He was a lifelong supporter of his hometown football club Newcastle United F.C. and a fan of British ska band The Specials. He was a close friend of fellow wrestlers Bryan Danielson, Kenta, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Shingo Takagi, and Zack Sabre Jr.

What were Pac's physical stats?

Benjamin Satterley was billed at 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) tall and weighed 194 pounds (88 kg) during his wrestling career. He was born on 22 August 1986 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, and died on 27 September 2026 at the age of 40.

When was Pac's final match?

Pac's final match took place on 26 September 2026 at AEW All Out, where he faced Andrade El Idolo for the AEW National Championship. He died the following day, 27 September 2026. This was just one day after his last in-ring appearance, which shocked the wrestling world.

Did Pac wrestle in Japan and Mexico?

Yes, Pac wrestled extensively in Japan for Dragon Gate and New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and in Mexico for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). He held the Open the Dream Gate Championship in Dragon Gate and competed in NJPW's Best of the Super Juniors tournament in 2012.

What did other wrestlers say about Pac's death?

Tributes poured in from across the wrestling world. Will Ospreay called him "the greatest export from our country. Also the greatest human being." Paul Heyman described it as a "truly terrible loss" and called him a "tremendous talent and even finer human being." AEW President Tony Khan said he "defined excellence." Nick Wayne said "PAC is one of the greatest innovators and Professional Wrestlers to ever do it."

What was Pac's other media work?

Pac appeared as a playable character in several WWE video games, including WWE 2K15 as Adrian Neville, WWE 2K16, WWE 2K17, and WWE 2K18 as Neville. He also features as Pac in AEW Fight Forever. He made his video game debut in WWE 2K15 with his own path in the "Who Got NXT" mode.