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Ilja Dragunov Discusses the Influence Benjamin Satterley Had on the Wrestling Business
Image Credit: AEW
During a recent interview with The Ariel Helwani Show, newly signed AEW wrestler Ilja Dragunov discussed the passing of beloved wrestler Benjamin Satterley, aka PAC. Dragunov spoke about the influence PAC had on his career, and how he used to watch PAC when he didn’t even know how to apply a headlock. Below are some highlights:
On Making His AEW Debut the Same Day He Won the WWE US Title
“I did actually realize that, and I was talking with my girl about it, which is like — it’s so poetic in some kind of way. It’s so, it’s like two so important, memorable moments for me that I cherish that it’s kind of like just funny how things work out. It’s really, I mean, the best things in my life always happened when I never expected them, which is also a way that makes me let go much easier, to the capacity that I, of course, can. But yeah, this is just crazy.”
Ilja Dragunov on the Influence the Late Benjamin Satterley, aka Pac, Had on His Career
“I only crossed paths with him once in a show in Ireland for Over the Top Wrestling, where he had a whole different match. So I didn’t even have the chance to wrestle him which is like just for me personally also a tragedy but just how that this happened is just like he for me personally he was just one of the major people that I was watching when I didn’t even know how to put on a headlock. And I’m sending all hope and feelings to the people that were much closer to him than I was. But like this person was so influential, like a one-in-a-million performer. He shaped the business. He shaped the independent wrestling business and even the business in the bigger leagues in a way that nobody else could. And not knowing him as a person, he must have been a wonderful person as well, as I talked to some colleagues of mine. So yeah, this very much touched me. It’s very sad still to this day.”
As previously reported, Satterley died from bronchial asthma. His death was ruled to be of natural causes. He was 40 years old.
If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit The Ariel Helwani Show with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.
