Officials rule AEW star Pac died of bronchial asthma

Officials have determined the cause of death for Benjamin Satterley, the professional wrestler known as Pac. A spokesperson for the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that investigators concluded Satterley passed away from bronchial asthma. The manner of his death was officially ruled natural.

Discovery and Initial Response

Satterley was discovered unconscious in a rental car outside of a CAVA in Des Plaines, Ill., at around 4 p.m. on Sept. 27. A 911 caller stated she had found Satterley “passed out” in his ride. Authorities formally pronounced him deceased just minutes after arriving at the scene.

First responders noted in an incident report that there were no injuries or “suspicious markings” on Satterley when they located his body. The report indicated that he had saliva on the front of his shirt and medication in his vehicle. An officer on the scene contacted a woman who knew Satterley, who told them the wrestler had stopped for lunch before heading to the airport. According to the report, Satterley’s phone had Google Maps open with a route to O’Hare Airport displayed.

Professional Context

Satterley was 40 years old when he died. He had been in the area for his gig with All Elite Wrestling (AEW). On Sept. 26, he wrestled against Andrade at the NOW Arena in Chicago during the All Out pay-per-view contest. He lost the match but later appeared during the main event matchup between Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay.

Tributes from Peers

Following the news of his death, various wrestlers shared their memories of Satterley. WWE star Seth Rollins, who previously competed against Satterley in WWE, spoke about his friend on the “No Contest Wrestling” podcast. Rollins stated it was the first time he had spoken on camera about Satterley.

“He was just an awesome dude. He was so funny and so unique,” Rollins said. “He was also super loyal and he was down to earth. He was just one of those people that... We looked up to Ben. We admired him, I think, because he was so incredible at what he did in the ring but he was also so humble about that part of his life. And the way he treated people with kindness and love and there was a warmth about him.”

Rollins recalled meeting Satterley when he was 21 years old during his first trip to Europe. He said he was impressed by Satterley’s in-ring ability and joked that he thought he would have to find a new profession after seeing him perform. Rollins expressed hope that Satterley’s legacy would be remembered as that of an “awesome, awesome human being.”

Why it matters

The official ruling provides clarity on the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of a prominent figure in professional wrestling. The confirmation of bronchial asthma as the cause, with no signs of foul play, concludes the initial investigation by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.

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Sources

• nypost.com: Exclusive | AEW star Pac’s cause of death revealed
• sports.yahoo.com: Seth Rollins Comments On The Death Of AEW Star & Former WWE Opponent Pac - Yahoo Sports

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.