Benjamin Satterley, the pro wrestling star known as Pac, was found dead in Illinois on Sunday hours after he had wrestled for the All Elite Wrestling (AEW) National Championship at All Out.
The Des Plaines Police Department told OutKick Dropkick there were no indications of foul play and the circumstances around Satterley’s death were not deemed to be suspicious. Police said the cause of death would be determined by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
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Adrian Neville, who wrestled in AEW as Pac, celebrates his victory during WrestleMania 33 on Sunday, April 2, 2017, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. (Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
AEW announced Satterley’s death late Sunday, sending shock and disbelief across the pro wrestling world.
“All Elite Wrestling is saddened to announce the passing of Benjamin Satterley, aka Pac,” the company said. “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.”
AEW owner Tony Khan also paid tribute to Satterley in a separate post.
“Benjamin Satterley defined excellence, as a beloved husband & friend to his many loved ones, + in his wrestling knowledge, skill, unprecedented athleticism, professionalism, consistency + dedication to the sport that he loved & traveled the world to pursue,” he wrote on X. “May Ben rest in peace.”
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Neville, known in AEW as Pac, arrives during the WWE Live Duesseldorf event at ISS Dome on Feb. 22, 2017, in Düsseldorf, Germany. (Bongarts/Getty Images)
Satterley was found “passed out” outside of a CAVA restaurant at around 4 p.m. local time, the California Post reported, citing 911 audio. An official who arrived on the scene reportedly said Satterley was dead on arrival.
Satterley, 40, was one of the first wrestlers to sign with All Elite Wrestling in 2019. He was a two-time trios champion and the inaugural all-Atlantic champion.
Before wrestling in AEW, he was with WWE and known as Adrian Neville. Satterley was a two-time cruiserweight champion, an NXT champion and two-time NXT tag team champion.
WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque added to the chorus of tributes.
Benjamin Satterley was known as Adrian Neville in WWE and Pac in AEW. (Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
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“Saddened to hear about the death of Ben Satterley known in @WWE as Neville,” he wrote on X. “I had the pleasure of working with Ben in the early days of @WWENXT. This moment, from NXT Arrival, marked the beginning of a new era for that brand and the men and women on it … and Ben was a major force behind that. He was an extraordinary talent and even kinder human being. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and fans across the world.”
