Backstage Update on WWE’s Reaction to The Rock’s Comments on PAC & AEW

As previously reported, TKO executive board member and WWE Champion Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson recently shared a message honoring the late AEW wrestler, Benjamin Satterley, aka PAC. PAC previously wrestled in WWE from 2012 to 2018. During his comments, The Rock shared praise for AEW, stating that it’s “growing into this phenomenal wrestling company,” which apparently caught some AEW officials off guard, per Dave Meltzer.

During a Friday (Oct. 2) edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said that The Rock’s version caught some individuals off guard. He explained, “Rock and Nick Khan are close. I do not believe that has changed. Were there people in WWE who were very surprised at his wording and what he said, especially with him being on the TKO board of directors? Yes, okay. They were very surprised.”

Meltzer said he’s unsure if WWE President Nick Khan was surprised by The Rock’s comments, adding, “Nick may not have been. He may have told Nick ahead of time. Maybe he didn’t. He can do whatever he wants.”

Meltzer continued that WWE was surprised, “Not that he did the video, but the wording in the video, where he praised them and essentially gave the stamp of, ‘Yeah, you guys are good for business and work hard, and you’re helping make wrestling.'” He also noted, “That’s not the message I think the company wants out. No one’s going to be mad at him doing the video, but the wording- people brought it up to me.”

In the video, The Rock shared his condolences with PAC’s friends and family, along with his personal friends Tony Khan and QT Marshall. He stated, “To my friend Tony Khan, I’m so sorry for your loss. My friend QT [Marshall] and all the locker rooms, the men and women of AEW, I’m so sorry for your loss. And to those, of course, my colleagues in WWE who knew him well, I’m so sorry. So sorry all around.”

You can view the clip of The Rock’s earlier comments below:

The Rock pays tribute to PAC.

(therock | Instagram) pic.twitter.com/X1xAvE6jmA

— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) September 29, 2026