The wrestling world is mourning the sudden passing of AEW star PAC, who died at the age of 40 on Sunday. The news came less than 24 hours after he competed at AEW All Out in Chicago, making the loss even more difficult for those who had been with him shortly before his death.
PAC, whose real name was Benjamin Satterley, had been part of AEW since 2019 and was most recently a member of the Death Riders alongside Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Daniel Garcia and Marina Shafir. “The Problem” was with him at All Out, where PAC challenged Andrade El Idolo for the AEW National Championship before appearing later in the main event.
Just hours after AEW announced PAC’s death, Shafir competed at a Warrior Wrestling event. After her match, she climbed to the top turnbuckle and struggled to hold back her emotions as she remembered the man she had shared the ring and locker room with.
The 38-year-old star explained that she had been with PAC only a day earlier and had been able to tell him that she loved him. She then reflected on the qualities that made him special to the people around him, describing his self-awareness and humility before delivering a message to everyone watching.
“I was just holding this man yesterday… Wrestling will drive you to places in your mind… He was the best. He was the (expletive) best, you know why? ‘Cause he knew himself, and I think, that just took him.. He was just so modest about how fascinating he was, and.. I don’t know how to be, say our thank you… He was the light of us.. Please tell the people you love in your life that you love them. I am just very happy that I got to tell him that I loved him yesterday… He brought the inner bastad out of me. I wouldn’t be here today if I didn’t share time and space with this man, alongside a lot of other (expletive) people,” Shafir said.
The tribute captured how quickly the wrestling community had been forced to process PAC’s death. Shafir’s final reminder to tell loved ones how much they mean while there is still an opportunity gave her speech a deeply personal ending.
More Coverage on PAC
- Has PAC’s Cause of Death Been Revealed?
- Inside AEW Star PAC’s Personal Life: Wife, Parents, Death, and Last Match
- Rhea Ripley, Paul Heyman & Wrestling Stars Mourn PAC
- Wrestling World Defends The Miz From Trolls After PAC’s Death: ‘Clearly Doesn’t Know’
PAC Leaves Behind a Remarkable Wrestling Legacy
PAC began his professional wrestling career in 2004 and eventually became known around the world for his athletic style and high-flying offense. Before joining AEW, he spent several years in WWE as Adrian Neville, winning the NXT Championship before moving to the main roster and becoming a two-time Cruiserweight Champion.
After signing with AEW in 2019, PAC became the company’s inaugural All-Atlantic Champion, a title that was later renamed the International Championship. He also won the AEW World Trios Championship as part of Death Triangle alongside Penta El Zero M and Rey Fenix.
His later run with the Death Riders added another chapter to his AEW career, with PAC regularly appearing alongside Moxley, Castagnoli, Yuta, Garcia and Shafir. The relationship between PAC and Shafir extended beyond their on-screen association, with Shafir’s comments making clear how personally she viewed their bond.
Shafir also took to social media to mourn PAC, writing: “My bastard brother 💔 where did you go?”
The short message reflected the same sense of disbelief and loss that came through in her tribute at the Warrior Wrestling event.
PAC’s final match came at All Out, where he wrestled Andrade El Idolo before appearing later in the pay-per-view’s main event. His career across WWE, AEW, and the independent wrestling scene left him with a legacy that extended well beyond his championship accomplishments, particularly among the wrestlers who shared the ring and locker room with him.
More Wrestling News
- ROH Announces Special Tribute for PAC Following His Sudden Death: ‘Every Hour Until 3PM’
- John Cena Reacts to PAC’s Sudden Death, Pays Tribute To PAC In His Unique Way
- Triple H Mourns PAC’s Tragic Death, Pays Powerful WWE Tribute – ‘Ben Was a Major Force Behind NXT’
- John Cena’s Tribute to WWE ‘Sign Guy’ Is a Moving Message After a Painful Weekend
