AEW star Benjamin Satterley (PAC) found unresponsive in car outside Illinois restaurant
Benjamin Satterley, known to fans as PAC and formerly as Neville, was found unresponsive inside a vehicle in the parking lot of a CAVA restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois, at around 4 PM on Sunday and was later pronounced dead.
Satterley had competed the previous night at AEW All Out in Chicago, wrestling Andrade El Idolo for the AEW National Championship and appearing in the pay-per-view main event to assist Jon Moxley in his World title match against Will Ospreay. Tributes from across the wrestling community followed, and WWE paid tribute during the September 28 edition of Raw, opening Monday's Raw with a memorial graphic paying tribute to WWE's Neville. WWE posted: "WWE extends its condolences to the family, friends and fans of Benjamin Satterley, known to the WWE Universe as Neville." WWE CCO Triple H also paid homage, noting how Neville was a major force behind NXT’s new era.
Dispatch audio obtained by the California Post states Satterley was discovered inside a vehicle in the CAVA parking lot in Des Plaines at around 4 PM Sunday. First responders were alerted to a person who appeared to be unconscious inside the car and were initially unable to confirm whether the 40-year-old was breathing. A witness told the outlet that customers noticed the AEW star had passed out in the vehicle and called 911. Some people in the restaurant searched for medical equipment while waiting for paramedics to arrive.
The Cook County Medical Examiner told TMZ that the cause and manner of death are pending additional testing, which could take several weeks. An autopsy was performed on Monday. A spokesperson for the medical examiner’s office said there were no apparent signs of trauma or foul play and that the death did not appear to be suspicious.
Satterley’s final match took place on Saturday night at AEW All Out in Chicago, when he faced Andrade El Idolo for the AEW National Championship. He also intervened in the event’s main event, aiding Jon Moxley in his World title bout with Will Ospreay. Those appearances were his last documented in-ring efforts before he was found unresponsive.
AEW President Tony Khan led an emotional 10-bell salute for Satterley at ROH tapings. Khan has announced that the upcoming AEW Dynamite will "honor the life, career, and legacy" of PAC. Video and images of the salute were shared on social media.
The Cook County Medical Examiner has said further testing could take several weeks, and AEW has stated that its next Dynamite broadcast will honor the life, career and legacy of Benjamin Satterley (PAC).