DES PLAINES, IL. (THECOUNT) — AEW star PAC, whose real name was Benjamin Satterley, was found unresponsive inside a vehicle outside a restaurant in Des Plaines Sunday afternoon before being pronounced dead at age 40, as the Cook County Medical Examiner continues testing to determine the cause and manner of his death.
The Cook County Medical Examiner told TMZ on Monday that an autopsy was performed and that the cause and manner of death are pending additional testing that could take several weeks.
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Satterley was found in a vehicle in the parking lot of a CAVA restaurant in Des Plaines at approximately 4 p.m. Sunday. Emergency dispatchers were told responders were dealing with an unresponsive person in a car and initially could not confirm whether he was breathing.
Medics were dispatched to Satterley at the Mediterranean-themed restaurant at around 4 p.m., according to dispatch audio obtained by The Post on Monday.
A witness told the New York Post that customers noticed Satterley passed out inside the vehicle and called 911. Some customers reportedly went inside the restaurant looking for medical equipment while waiting for emergency personnel to arrive.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said Satterley was pronounced deceased at 4:08 p.m. Sunday.
A Des Plaines spokesperson told the Daily Herald there were no indications of foul play or trauma and that the death did not appear suspicious. The circumstances surrounding the death remain under review while the medical examiner awaits the results of additional testing.
The death came less than a day after Satterley competed at All Elite Wrestling’s All Out event Saturday night at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Performing as PAC, he faced Andrade El Idolo in an AEW National Championship match.
PAC lost the match against Andrade but later returned during the night’s main event involving Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay.
AEW announced Satterley’s death Sunday night, remembering the Newcastle upon Tyne, England, native for his high-flying wrestling style and in-ring ability. He began his professional wrestling career in 2004 and performed for wrestling promotions around the world before joining AEW in 2019.
Before signing with AEW, Satterley was widely known as Neville during his WWE career. He competed in WWE from 2013 to 2019 and held the NXT Championship as well as the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.
With AEW, PAC became the promotion’s inaugural All-Atlantic Champion and also captured the AEW World Trios Championship twice.
AEW said Satterley “captivated fans with innovative high-flying moves and incredible in-ring ability” while extending condolences to his family, friends and fans.
Satterley’s death occurred in Des Plaines, a city in Cook County approximately northwest of downtown Chicago. The community is part of the Chicago metropolitan area and is located near O’Hare International Airport.
Google Maps: CAVA restaurant area in Des Plaines, Illinois
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