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Nick Jackson Remembers PAC In Social Media Tribute
Nick Jackson took to his social media to share his memories of PAC ahead of tonight’s AEW Dynamite tribute episode. The AEW EVP posted to Instagram late Tuesday night to look back on his friendship with PAC, aka Benjamin Slattery, who of course passed away on Sunday at the age of 40.
Jackson recalled seeing PAC in Dragon Gate and meeting him in PWG before reconnecting in 2019 before AEW launched. He went in to recall the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega’s series against Death Triangle, all the way to their match in Mexico last month. You can see the full tribute below:
“There will never be another Pac. He inspired generations of wrestlers, and the impact he’s had on the wrestling business will be seen for decades to come.
I’ll never forget the matches I witnessed firsthand in Japan for Dragon Gate. They absolutely blew me away, and I always wished I could become just as good of a wrestler as him. We first met 20 years ago for PWG. Soon after, he mentored us over in Japan and showed us how things worked there. He would show us where the best food spots were—and, of course, where the local McDonald’s was (lol).
We lost touch for a few years while he was wrestling in WWE, but we reconnected right before the start of AEW. Matt and I knew we had to have him on the roster because of how incredibly talented he was in the ring, and how good of a human being he was outside of it.
We had many classic matches with him, but the best-of-seven series that ended in a ladder match in LA will always be etched in my memory. Matt, Kenny, and I, along with the Lucha Bros and Pac, all shared tears that night. We were just so happy and had so much fun—even though I accidentally broke Pac’s nose in the very first match a month or so prior! He never held it against me. Haha. At that time, my confidence was at an all-time low, and he helped me get it back. I’ll never forget that.
We just wrestled him last month in Mexico. After the match, we all reflected on the crazy experience and agreed we could do that match every single day of the week. We were on such a high from how hot that crowd was. Little did I know that would be the last time I’d ever share a ring with him.
What breaks my heart even more is that I was so preoccupied with my ladder match this Saturday that I didn’t even get to say hello to him, and that’s something I’m going to have to live with forever. This has taught me to try and live each and every day as if it’s my last, with no regrets. It’s a reminder to make sure you tell the people you love just how much you love them.
I love you, Ben.”
