Benjamin Satterley, English pro wrestler known as Pac, dead at 40
Pro wrestler Benjamin Satterley, a.k.a. Pac, is seen at an All Elite Wrestling (AEW) show in Fishers, Ind., on Sept. 23, 2026. AEW announced on Sept. 27 that Satterley had died at age 40. (All Elite Wrestling)Social SharingBenjamin Satterley, an English pro wrestler and cornerstone of U.S.-based All Elite Wrestling (AEW), has died. He was 40 years old.
AEW announced the death of Satterley, better known by his in-ring mononym Pac, on their social media channels on Sunday night.
No cause of death was released. He had competed on television the previous night, competing against Andrade el Idolo in Chicago.
Satterley captivated fans "with innovative high-flying moves and incredible in-ring ability ... and held multiple AEW Championships and competed in some of the most memorable matches in AEW history," the company wrote online. "Our condolences go out to Satterley’s family, friends and fans."
Born in and billed from Newcastle, England, Satterley began his wrestling career in 2004 in the U.K. He competed in independent leagues around the world, including in Japan and Mexico, and quickly built a reputation among wrestling fans for his unique combination of acrobatic, high-flying moves around the ring and chiselled, muscular physique.
Satterley began his wrestling training when he was 18 after developing an interest in the sport through his aunt, who was a fan of the WWF, according to MN2S, his booking agency.
Pro wrestler Benjamin Satterley, a.k.a. Pac, leaps in the air before landing on Ace Austin. (All Elite Wrestling)He competed in World Wrestling Entertainment from 2012 to 2018 under the ring name Adrian Neville, where he was a cornerstone of its developmental program NXT and later its cruiserweight division.
He signed with upstart company All Elite Wrestling at its inception in 2019, where he wrestled against and alongside many of the company's top stars. He won several championships, including becoming the inaugural international champion.
His signature finishing move was called the black arrow, a twisting corkscrew dive from the top rope akin to an Olympic diver leaping off a platform — only onto an opponent's prone body instead of an empty pool. It earned him the nickname "The man that gravity forgot."
Satterley spent most of the last decade as a menacing villain in the ring, announced with the less flowery moniker "The Bastard."
He occasionally used that persona to comedic effect. In one of AEW's early standout matches in 2020, he played a visibly frustrated foil to Orange Cassidy, whose satirical sendups of pro wrestling include slow-motion kicks and competing with his hands in his pockets.
Satterley kept much of his life outside the wrestling world private, making very few appearances or interviews out of character. But in the hours after his death was announced, a flood of tributes from fellow wrestlers and co-workers poured in, painting him as the picture of a talented, humble performer and friend.
"Benjamin Satterley defined excellence, as a beloved husband and friend to his many loved ones, and in his wrestling knowledge, skill, unprecedented athleticism, professionalism, consistency and dedication to the sport that he loved and travelled the world to pursue," AEW CEO Tony Khan wrote on X. "May Ben rest in peace."
"He was exceptional at everything. He also had an unmatched work ethic, level of kindness and humility," wrote Toronto-based wrestler Josh Alexander. "When I saw him yesterday for some reason I made sure to tell him about the convo and remind him he was the very best of us. I’m so happy I did."
Pro wrestler Benjamin Satterley, a.k.a. Pac, left, with wrestling referee Bryce Remsberg, right, in an undated photo posted on Remsberg's X account. (Bryce Remsburg/X)"To many, he was a bastard. To my kids, he was Ben — who brought them Kinder Eggs from the U.K., who converted them to Newcastle fans," wrote AEW referee Bryce Remsberg. "To me, he was an incredible friend for 20 years. Watching a Black Arrow from inside the ring still takes my breath away."
Satterley's passing is the second death of an AEW wrestler in less than a month.
Earlier in September, Andy Williams, a.k.a. The Butcher, died after collapsing during an independent wrestling show in Pittsburgh. He was 48. The Buffalo, N.Y., native was also a guitarist for the metalcore band Every Time I Die.
Satterley, who rarely posted on social media, shared a photo online of himself and Williams in the locker room on Sept. 17.
Pro wrestlers Andy Williams, a.k.a. The Butcher, left, and Benjamin Satterley, a.k.a. Pac, in an undated photo shared by Satterley on social media on Sept. 17, 2026. (Bastardpac/X)ABOUT THE AUTHORJonathan OreJournalist
Jonathan Ore is a writer and editor for CBC Radio Digital in Toronto. He regularly covers the video games industry for CBC Radio programs across the country and has also covered arts & entertainment, technology and the games industry for CBC News. You can reach him at jonathan.ore@cbc.ca
