Tony Khan Pays Tribute to PAC After AEW Star Benjamin Satterley Dies at 40

The professional wrestling world is mourning the death of Benjamin Satterley, better known as PAC in AEW and Neville during his WWE career. All Elite Wrestling announced his passing on September 27, 2026, at the age of 40. The announcement came only a day after Satterley had competed at AEW All Out in Chicago. 0

Tony Khan, who played a key role in bringing PAC to AEW in 2019, has now shared a personal tribute to the former champion. Khan highlighted Satterley’s qualities both inside and outside the ring, remembering him as a talented wrestler and a valued person to those close to him.

The circumstances surrounding Satterley’s death have not been publicly disclosed. AEW’s announcement focused on his career and legacy while extending condolences to his family, friends and fans. 1

Tony Khan Remembers PAC as an Exceptional Wrestler

Khan’s tribute focused on the qualities that made Satterley such a respected figure throughout professional wrestling.

The AEW president described PAC as someone who combined exceptional athletic ability with wrestling knowledge, professionalism and dedication. Khan also acknowledged the importance of Satterley’s relationships away from the ring, remembering him as a husband and friend as well as a performer.

That combination was a recurring theme throughout PAC’s career. He became known for his athletic style and high-flying ability, but his reputation was also built on his intensity, consistency and technical understanding of professional wrestling.

For AEW, his importance went beyond individual matches. PAC joined the company during its formative period in 2019 and remained part of its roster for the rest of his career. AEW confirmed that he held multiple championships and competed in some of the promotion’s memorable matches. 2

PAC Wrestled at AEW All Out Just One Day Before His Death

The timing of the news made PAC’s passing particularly difficult for wrestling fans and performers.

Only a day before AEW announced his death, Satterley had competed at All Out in Chicago. He challenged Andrade El Idolo for the AEW National Championship, with Andrade retaining the title. Reports also noted PAC’s involvement elsewhere on the event, including an appearance during the main-event situation involving Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay. 3

His final appearance therefore came while he was still actively contributing to AEW programming, making the announcement an especially sudden development for viewers who had watched him perform only hours earlier.

AEW has not announced any additional details about what led to his death, and speculation about the circumstances should be avoided until reliable information is provided.

PAC Was One of AEW’s Early Signings

PAC’s AEW career began in 2019, when the company was establishing itself as a major promotion in the American wrestling landscape.

His arrival gave AEW an experienced international performer with a reputation already established across several wrestling markets. His distinctive combination of speed, athleticism and aggressive in-ring presentation quickly made him an important part of the roster.

During his AEW run, PAC competed as a singles wrestler and as part of several factions and tag teams. He was associated with Death Triangle alongside Penta and Rey Fenix and later became connected with the Death Riders storyline.

AEW confirmed that he won multiple championships during his time with the company. His accomplishments included two AEW World Trios Championship reigns and becoming the inaugural AEW All-Atlantic Champion, a title that was later renamed the AEW International Championship. 4

PAC’s WWE Career as Neville

Before becoming one of AEW’s established stars, Satterley had a significant career in WWE under the name Neville.

He joined WWE in the early 2010s and became an important figure during the development of NXT. His athletic style made him one of the standout performers of the division, and he eventually moved to WWE’s main roster.

During his WWE career, Neville became a two-time NXT Tag Team Champion and won the NXT Championship. He later became a two-time Cruiserweight Champion. 5

His WWE character was closely associated with his remarkable aerial ability, and he was famously presented as a wrestler capable of defying expectations with his athleticism.

After leaving WWE in 2018, Satterley spent time outside the company before becoming part of AEW’s original roster in 2019. 6

William Regal Had Recently Praised PAC

PAC’s reputation among fellow wrestlers was also reflected in comments made by William Regal shortly before his death.

Regal recently spoke highly of PAC after sharing that the two had travelled on the same flight from Mexico. Regal praised Satterley’s wrestling ability and placed him among the most notable British wrestlers of his generation.

Rather than simply highlighting PAC’s athleticism, Regal’s assessment focused on his credibility and the physical intensity that he brought to his matches.

Regal’s comments have gained additional attention following Satterley’s death because they provide a recent example of the respect he commanded from an experienced figure in British and international wrestling.

Why PAC Was So Important to AEW

PAC’s contribution to AEW can be understood through both his championship achievements and his role in establishing the company’s wrestling identity.

When AEW launched, the company needed performers who could offer different styles and connect with audiences familiar with international wrestling. PAC brought years of experience from Britain, Japan, WWE and the independent wrestling scene.

His matches frequently combined speed with physicality, allowing him to work effectively in singles competition, tag-team matches and faction-based storylines.

He also became an important link between AEW’s early roster and the wider global wrestling community. His career had already taken him through several major wrestling markets before he became one of AEW’s established names.

PAC’s Championship Legacy in AEW

Although PAC’s reputation was built heavily around his in-ring performances, his championship record also reflects his importance to AEW.

The titles represent only part of his legacy. PAC’s influence was also evident in the reactions from wrestlers and fans following the announcement of his death.

Wrestling World Reacts to PAC’s Passing

Tributes began appearing across professional wrestling soon after AEW confirmed Satterley’s death.

Wrestlers from AEW, WWE and other parts of the wrestling industry shared messages remembering PAC’s ability and character. The early wave of tributes included Will Ospreay, Saraya, Rhea Ripley, Paul Heyman and several other wrestling personalities. 7

The reactions reflected how widely Satterley was respected. His career crossed major wrestling promotions and countries, allowing him to build relationships with performers from different generations and wrestling backgrounds.

For many fans, his legacy will be tied to the distinctive style that made him stand out from other wrestlers. For his colleagues, however, the tributes have also emphasized the person behind the performer.

AEW’s Tribute Highlights a Career That Spanned More Than Two Decades

Satterley began his wrestling career in 2004 in his native Newcastle upon Tyne, England. From there, he developed a reputation on the British wrestling scene before expanding his career internationally.

His journey eventually took him to WWE, where he became known as Neville, and later to AEW, where he performed as PAC.

Across those years, he competed in multiple countries and against wrestlers representing different generations and styles. AEW’s official statement specifically highlighted his innovative high-flying moves and in-ring ability when announcing his passing. 8

That career history helps explain why the response to his death has extended far beyond one wrestling promotion.

What Tony Khan’s Tribute Says About PAC’s Legacy

Tony Khan’s message was notable because it did not focus exclusively on championship victories or famous matches.

Instead, Khan highlighted Satterley’s dedication to wrestling and the personal qualities that shaped his relationships with people around him. That broader tribute reflects the difference between remembering a performer solely for what happened inside the ring and remembering the individual who spent more than two decades pursuing the profession.

PAC’s career included major championships, international appearances and memorable rivalries, but his reputation among fellow wrestlers was equally important to the legacy he leaves behind.

At 40, his career ended far earlier than fans expected. The wrestling community is now left to remember the body of work he created across Britain, WWE, AEW and other international promotions.

Key Takeaways

• AEW confirmed the death of Benjamin Satterley, known as PAC, at age 40.
• Tony Khan publicly paid tribute to Satterley and praised his wrestling ability and professionalism.
• PAC joined AEW in 2019 and became one of the promotion’s established stars.
• He was a two-time AEW World Trios Champion and the inaugural AEW All-Atlantic Champion.
• Before AEW, Satterley wrestled in WWE as Neville and won several championships.
• PAC had competed at AEW All Out just one day before his death was announced.
• The circumstances surrounding his death have not been publicly disclosed.
• Tributes have come from wrestlers and wrestling figures across multiple promotions.

Final Verdict

Tony Khan’s tribute underlines the impact PAC had on AEW and professional wrestling more broadly. Benjamin Satterley built a career that stretched from the British independent scene to WWE and eventually AEW, where he became one of the company’s early signings and a multi-time champion.

His sudden death at 40 has prompted tributes from across the wrestling industry, with many focusing not only on his extraordinary athletic ability but also on his professionalism, dedication and relationships outside the ring.

With the circumstances of his death still undisclosed, the focus remains on remembering Satterley’s career and the lasting contribution he made to professional wrestling. For AEW, PAC will remain part of the company’s early history and one of the performers who helped establish its identity during its formative years.

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