Remembering Pac: Gravity Forgot Him, But We Won’t

I spent most of yesterday off my phone and computer, so when I got on and saw the news, I was beyond words. And even now, I’m struggling to process it. I don’t think I’ve been this gutted by a wrestler’s death since Eddie Guerrero. He was also a guy I’d followed for years who died in his prime. And like I was with Guerrero, I’m sure there are fans out there who don’t remember a wrestling world without PAC.

He was a generational talent in the ring. He helped to lay the foundation for what the independent scene of the late 2000s and 2010s would look like. And he was at the forefront of the British wrestling revival. His work in NXT helped to shape what the Black and Gold brand was all about, and his work in the Death Riders has been nothing short of amazing to watch. And I wanted to take a moment today and put together some words about my memories of The Man Who Gravity Forgot.

Earliest Memories

My earliest memories of PAC come from TEW mods, and he was always a guy to sign. I also had the pleasure of following his career through recaps on 411. But it wasn’t until YouTube started taking off that I was able to actually see the man in action. And he more than lived up to the hype. He had so much talent for someone so young. And his work in PWG, 1PW, Dragon Gate, CHIKARA, and ROH was special. You knew you were in for something amazing whenever he was on the card.

And while his size was always a factor against him, it really wasn’t a huge surprise for him to get signed to the WWE. Size doesn’t limit talent, and Pac’s talent was undeniable.

The WWE Run

I was lucky enough to be able to watch most of PAC’s NXT run. I already had The Network and was able to tune in each week and for all the TakeOvers. And Pac was out there putting on classics with TJ Wilson, Sami Zayn, and Bo Dallas. Those four men really set the bar for what it meant to be at the top of NXT. And while his initial main roster run was not the best (a cape? Really, Vince?) He didn’t let the bad booking get in the way, and he still put on a banger with Seth Rollins.

205 Live really let Pac shine and showed he was more than just a good hand in the ring; he was also great at character work and promos. His work as the Bastard and King of the Cruiserweights is some of the best stuff to come out of that show. It showed PAC was more than just a flippy guy; he completely changed his move set to match his heel turn, bringing in a grounded technical game instead.

AEW

After being unhappy for a long time, PAC walked out of the WWE during an episode of Raw. And after months of contract negotiations, he was allowed to walk away from the company. This leads us to PAC’s final years and his time in AEW. I’ll admit that due to a lack of cable, it’s been hard for me to follow AEW as closely as I’d like. But I still read the recaps and watch what I can through HBO, YouTube, and MyAEW.

But I do know that PAC maintained his consistent body of work. Continuing to be something special to watch, letting fans know they would have at least one spectacular match if he was scheduled. Of course, there were always more, but PAC rarely had a bad match. I think most fans remember his match with Orange Cassidy the most. And for good reason, it was an absolute classic and deserves all the attention.

Before joining the Death Riders, he would team with the Lucha Brothers to form Death Triangle. Death Triangle was one of my favorite parts of early AEW. And it’s a shame that injuries kept getting in the way of any sort of sustained push. Along with winning the Trios titles twice with Death Triangle and once with the Death Riders. PAC would also be the inaugural All-Atlantic Champion.

And then we come to his work with the Death Riders, and while he was never positioned as a top guy in the group. He was able to continue to stand out as someone special in the ring, which is hard to do when one of your stablemates is Claudio Castagnoli.

Final Thoughts

I send my regards to his family and friends. And also, a thank you to them for sharing such a talented human being with us for the last 22 years. And for those reading this, be sure to let the ones you love know that you love them. Spend time together, make memories, and cherish each other because you never know what it is time to go.

Rest in peace, Benjamin “Pac” Satterly. Gravity forgot you, but we won’t