Benjamin Satterley, the British wrestler known as Pac, died of bronchial asthma, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office in Illinois confirmed Friday, October 16, 2026. The office ruled the manner of death natural. Satterley was 40 and died September 27, a day after wrestling at AEW’s “All Out” event.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office in Illinois ruled Friday, October 16, 2026, that Benjamin Satterley, known as Pac, died of bronchial asthma. The finding ends three weeks without an official cause. The New York Post’s California Post edition first reported the ruling after a medical examiner’s spokesperson told it investigators had concluded the asthma finding.
"There's two kinds of eulogies at funerals. One is: This is what this guy did. The other is: This is who this guy was."Thank you to everyone who helped us remember our fallen friend, @BastardPAC, this Wednesday. We love you, Ben. We always will. 🖤 pic.twitter.com/ePqAnxFRgn
POST Wrestling reports that no further medical details have been made public. POST Wrestling credits Edward Lewis, the California Post’s senior sports reporter, with the first report, and says TMZ later confirmed it.
Pac Wrestles at NOW Arena, Is Found Dead in Des Plaines
On September 26, Satterley lost to Andrade at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, a northern suburb of Chicago, according to ABC7 Chicago. The bout was for the AEW National Championship. Fan Jayson Weidman told the station Pac wrestled the opening match and returned during the main event. He looked healthy as can be
, Weidman said. Weidman said he bought his seat specifically to be near Pac and the Death Riders. He described Pac as one of the wrestlers who make you question how what they do is humanly possible.
Satterley also appeared later that night during the main event matchup between Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay, POST Wrestling reports.
The next day, around 4 p.m., Satterley was found unresponsive in a rental car outside a CAVA restaurant in Des Plaines, the Daily Mail reported, citing emergency dispatch audio in which responders described him as slumped in the car. A 911 caller said he appeared to have passed out. POST Wrestling says he was pronounced dead at 4:08 p.m. local time. The medical examiner placed the death at 2761 Mannheim Road in Des Plaines, and the Daily Mail says the location is about 2 miles north of O’Hare.
Incident Report Notes Medication in the Car
Responders noted no injuries or suspicious markings. They did record saliva on the front of his shirt and medication in the vehicle, according to the New York Post and the Daily Mail. An acquaintance told officers he had stopped for lunch on his way to the airport, and his phone showed Google Maps directions to O’Hare International Airport. The New York Post says Satterley was in the area for his AEW booking.
ABC7 added that a restaurant employee said Satterley never entered the business. A fan left a vase on the sidewalk outside.
Authorities said soon after the death that nothing suggested trauma or foul play, POST Wrestling reports. An autopsy was performed, and cause and manner of death stayed pending until further testing was finished.
Wrestling Community Honors Late Star
AEW said Sunday evening it was saddened to announce the passing
of Satterley, according to the BBC. The company said he signed in 2019, held multiple AEW championships and competed in some of its most memorable matches. Its Facebook tribute read: The very best of us. Truly one of a kind. We love you and we miss you, Ben.
Benjamin Satterley (PAC) Passed Away From Bronchial Asthma https://t.co/HXhgNCKzXZ
Fellow wrestler Will Ospreay wrote on X: Honored to have shared the ring with you so many times. You truly are such a hero to myself and many others.
Days later, AEW turned its weekly “Dynamite” show into a tribute, NBC News reported. A statement from the Satterley family, read during the show, said he exemplified what it meant to be a decent human being
. The family also mentioned his dog, Wolfie. Marina Shafir, a fellow Death Riders member, said at an indie show hours after his death: He was just so modest about how fascinating he was
. On Instagram, his wife, Natalie, thanked Satterley for their beautiful life.
Newcastle Native Rose From Dragon Gate to AEW
Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Satterley began wrestling in 2004. POST Wrestling traces a run through Dragon Gate, where he set a 447-day reign as Open the Brave Gate Champion, then a 2012 WWE signing as Adrian Neville. There he won the NXT Championship and twice held the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. He also held the NXT Tag Team Championship twice.
Before AEW he also wrestled for New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, and he won the Open the Dream Gate Championship after returning to Dragon Gate. He joined AEW in 2019 and became its inaugural All-Atlantic Champion, later renamed the International Championship. He also held the AEW World Trios Championship with Death Triangle. His final match was the September 26 loss to Andrade.
🚨BREAKING🚨 Officials have determined what killed Benjamin Satterley aka PACA spokesperson for the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office told the California Post on Monday that following a probe into his sudden death, investigators concluded Satterley passed away from… pic.twitter.com/NSP7bI0YP0
The medical examiner has released no further findings.
Benjamin Satterley (PAC) passed away from bronchial asthma, according to a spokesperson for the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.The manner of Satterley’s death was officially ruled natural.– per @nypost pic.twitter.com/YZsJ97pdZw