The wrestling world continues to mourn the death of PAC, with a new wave of tributes arriving from colleagues and friends across the industry. Rusev, Jeff Jarrett, Eddie Kingston, Gabe Sapolsky, Nathan Frazer and others were among those publicly remembering the AEW star on September 28.
PAC, whose given name was Ben, built a reputation as one of his generation’s most distinctive and accomplished performers. His career connected him with wrestlers from multiple eras and promotions, and the reactions shared following his death have reflected both his standing inside the ring and the personal relationships he formed away from it.
While many of the messages have been brief expressions of grief and support, Rusev offered an especially personal remembrance of the time he and PAC spent developing their careers together in FCW and NXT. Rusev recalled an environment where wrestlers were driven by ambition and a shared love of the business before moving forward to larger stages.
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“We were in wrestling collage together , FCW-NXT. Graduated and moved on to the big stage. But it was in collage where you get to know your peers. Money wasn’t the object. None of us had any. It was the passion for wrestling that got you through the early practices and the politics. Benny was a superb human In and out of the ring. He loved his Wife, friends ,Newcastle, Wu-Tang and losing a game of FIFA to me. Rest easy, Ben. You will be missed forever.”
For more background on this topic, read Dave Bautista Pays Tribute To WWE ‘Sign Guy’ Rick Achberger.
The message offered a glimpse into a formative period for both men. Their paths would eventually take them to major international platforms, but Rusev’s words centered on the less visible years of training, early practices and the bonds made while trying to establish themselves in professional wrestling.
It was also a remembrance of PAC beyond his in-ring identity. Rusev referred to his love for his wife, friends, Newcastle and Wu-Tang, while adding a lighthearted reference to their FIFA games. In a day marked by sadness, that detail reflected the kind of ordinary friendship and camaraderie that can remain meaningful long after performers move through different companies and stages of their careers.
Remembering PAC’s Influence
PAC’s name has been associated with exceptional athleticism, intensity and a style that consistently made him stand out. Whether appearing as PAC or under other identities during his career, he was regarded as a wrestler capable of delivering matches with urgency, precision and a physical edge. The tributes emerging since Sunday night have underscored the lasting impact of that body of work.
Gabe Sapolsky looked back at matches involving PAC that he had booked, sharing the emotional experience of revisiting those moments after learning of his death. Sapolsky specifically remembered a closing sequence built around a display of dives, an image that speaks to the type of explosive, memorable action PAC regularly brought to major matches.
“I wanted to watch PAC matches I booked. This was sensational. I forgot about closing angle where I liked to book ‘firework’ displays of dives. Man, wasn’t ready for this. RIP PAC. RIP Brodie. RIP Sabu. I love you all even if we haven’t talked in years”
Sapolsky’s message placed PAC alongside Brodie and Sabu in a reflection on the losses felt throughout wrestling. It also conveyed how difficult it can be for those who worked closely with performers to return to old footage and memories after devastating news. Matches can preserve extraordinary athletic moments, but they can also bring back the people and relationships surrounding them.
Jeff Jarrett also shared a tribute as the wrestling community continued to process the news. Jarrett’s message was part of a broad response that has brought together talent and figures from different corners of the industry. The collective nature of the reaction has been notable: PAC’s career reached far beyond any single locker room, and the outpouring has reflected that reach.
Nathan Frazer was among the wrestlers paying tribute as well. The response from a performer of Frazer’s generation further illustrates PAC’s influence on wrestlers who grew up watching or working alongside him. PAC’s speed, conditioning and willingness to compete with intensity made him a clear reference point for many who value a high-paced modern style.
Eddie Kingston Shares Video Tribute
Eddie Kingston also responded to the news in a video shared through Instagram Live. Kingston’s reaction joined the many personal tributes that have appeared in the wake of PAC’s death. The volume of messages from wrestlers, promoters and fans has made clear that this is a loss being felt on both a professional and deeply human level.
In moments like this, the wrestling industry’s public nature can make grief visible in real time. Wrestlers spend years traveling, training, competing and sharing locker rooms with one another. Even when careers lead them in separate directions, those experiences create connections that often endure. The memories being shared for PAC have repeatedly returned to that sense of friendship, mutual respect and the struggle of pursuing wrestling before success arrives.
Rusev’s recollection of FCW and NXT captured that reality particularly well. Before the major events, championships and global audiences, there are the developmental days that shape performers as athletes and people. His tribute did not focus only on PAC’s accomplishments; it remembered Ben as someone who loved the people and places important to him and who could share friendly competition over a game of FIFA.
That personal framing has become central to the tributes. PAC was celebrated for his work, but those grieving him are also remembering the person they knew behind the character. The use of his name, Ben, in Rusev’s message emphasized that distinction and the loss felt by those who knew him outside the spotlight.
A Community United in Grief
Additional reactions have continued to be shared from throughout wrestling, including messages from industry figures and performers who crossed paths with PAC at different points in his career. Each response adds to a portrait of a wrestler whose presence mattered to those around him.
The tributes have not offered details regarding the circumstances of PAC’s death, and the focus has remained on honoring his life and legacy. That restraint has allowed the conversation to center on the memories being offered by people who knew him, worked with him or were inspired by his performances.
For fans, PAC’s matches will remain an enduring part of his legacy. For his peers, the memories being shared show that his impact extended further than the ring. From the developmental system recalled by Rusev to the matches remembered by Sapolsky and the emotional video response from Kingston, the reaction has painted a picture of a respected performer and a cherished friend.
As condolences continue to arrive, the message from those closest to the wrestling world has remained consistent: PAC will be missed, and Ben will be remembered.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.