The wrestling world is mourning the death of Benjamin Satterley, better known as PAC in AEW and Neville in WWE, who passed away at the age of 40 on September 27. Triple H was among the WWE figures to remember Satterley, reflecting on the role he played during the formative years of NXT.
Triple H worked closely with Satterley during his WWE run, particularly when NXT was developing into a major part of the company. “The Game” shared a photo of the two from NXT Arrival in February 2014, an event that marked an important stage in the brand’s growth.
Satterley was featured in the main event that night, defeating Bo Dallas in a Ladder Match to win the NXT Championship. He went on to hold the title for more than 280 days before losing it to Sami Zayn in December 2014, while also becoming a two-time NXT Tag Team Champion.
Remembering the former Neville, WWE Chief Content Officer highlighted both Satterley’s ability inside the ring and the person he was outside it.
“Saddened to hear about the death of Ben Satterley known in @WWE as Neville. 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.”
Satterley’s death came just one day after his final match, when he challenged Andrade El Idolo for the AEW National Championship at All Out. AEW confirmed his passing on September 27 but did not disclose a cause of death.
PAC’s WWE Exit Followed a Contract Dispute
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Satterley’s WWE departure came after a difficult period in 2017. He walked away from WWE after learning that he was scheduled to lose to Enzo Amore on RAW, with reports at the time pointing to creative disagreements and frustration with his direction. WWE initially denied that he had left the company.
The situation dragged on for months. WWE reportedly froze Neville’s contract in January 2018, meaning he remained tied to the company while not appearing on television. He was ultimately reported to be out of WWE in August 2018.
That exit eventually opened the door for Satterley to return to wrestling under his PAC name. He returned to Dragon Gate later in 2018 before becoming one of AEW’s early major signings in 2019.
PAC went on to win championships in AEW and became a central figure in groups including Death Triangle. His final years in wrestling added another chapter to a career that had already taken him from Newcastle upon Tyne to WWE, NXT and eventually AEW.
Triple H’s tribute now serves as a reminder of Satterley’s contribution to NXT at a time when the brand was establishing its identity. For WWE, he was Neville; for AEW fans, he became PAC again, but his work across both companies left a lasting mark on professional wrestling.
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- Marina Shafir’s Painful Reaction to PAC’s Death Will Leave Everyone Teary-Eyed: ‘Got to Tell Him I Loved Him Yesterday’
