Why did PAC fka Neville leave WWE in 2018 before joining AEW?

PAC left WWE in 2018 and joined AEW in 2019.

Benjamin Satterley, better known to wrestling fans as PAC in AEW and formerly Neville in WWE, recently passed away at the age of 40. While the news has shocked the pro wrestling world, not much is known about the reason behind his sudden death.

According to the latest update, Satterley was found inside a vehicle in the parking lot of a CAVA restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois, at around 4 PM Sunday. First responders were alerted to a person who appeared to be unconscious inside a car, though they were initially unable to confirm whether the 40-year-old was breathing.

The cause and manner of death remain pending additional testing, which could take several weeks. An autopsy was performed on Monday. However, a spokesperson for the medical examiner’s office said there were no apparent signs of trauma or foul play and that the death did not appear to be suspicious.

While the wrestling world mourns the loss of ‘The Man That Gravity Forgot,’ let’s take a look at the reason behind his WWE exit in 2018, which ultimately paved the way for his AEW run and his joining the Death Riders.

Shatterley wrestled as Neville in WWE & was an integral part of NXT’s early success

In July 2012, Neville signed with WWE and debuted under the ring name Adrian Neville in January 2013. During his NXT tenure, he captured the NXT Championship and the NXT Tag Team Championship.

Even WWE CCO Triple H, in his tweet honoring Satterley’s legacy, credited him as a major force behind the new era in NXT.

In March 2015, Neville made his main roster debut on Raw. On the main roster, he captured the WWE Cruiserweight Championship twice, delivering some iconic matches and becoming the “King of the Cruiserweights.”

However, Neville was unhappy with how the Cruiserweight division was booked. The creative frustrations reached a breaking point in October 2017, when he walked out of Raw before a scheduled match against Enzo Amore.

Reports suggested that he had quit WWE after being unhappy with his position for some time. However, WWE denied that Neville had left the company.

By November, there were reports of positive discussions, with many believing a return was possible, but in January 2018, WWE reportedly froze Neville’s contract, keeping him under contract indefinitely until an agreement on his release could be reached.

In August, it was reported that Neville was no longer under contract with WWE. Neville then returned to Dragongate, even capturing the Open the Dream Gate Championship in his short run.

In January 2019, Satterley was among one of the first signees to AEW. In AEW, he became the inaugural AEW All-Atlantic Champion (AEW International Championship) and also a two-time AEW Trios Champion.

Before his demise, PAC was part of the Death Riders faction led by Jon Moxley (fka Dean Ambrose). In his final match, he wrestled Andrade for the AEW National Championship on Saturday at AEW All Out in Chicago.

However, his final TV appearance came in the main event of AEW All Out, where he aided Moxley in the World title match against Will Ospreay. Satterley’s untimely passing has sent shockwaves through the wrestling world, with fellow wrestlers, legends, and fans coming together to pay tribute to the beloved performer and celebrate his lasting legacy.

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