Samoa Joe has shared an emotional tribute to Benjamin Satterley, the wrestler known around the world as PAC, as the professional wrestling community continues to mourn his unexpected passing at the end of September.
Joe’s comments arrive during a painful period for those who worked alongside Satterley and for fans who followed the body of work he built across multiple countries. PAC was widely regarded as one of his generation’s most distinctive in-ring performers, combining extraordinary athleticism with an intense, uncompromising presentation that made him stand out wherever he appeared.
For Joe, however, the loss is not only about an admired performer no longer being part of the industry. It is also about the absence of a friend and colleague whose presence had become part of the normal rhythm of working in AEW.
“Ben was a guy that came up with a lot of us in that who we watched just have this meteoric rise internationally, probably from one of the most improbable places at the time when you think about the scene where there was actually people were getting exposure. But he was that good.”
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Joe recalls PAC’s rise
Joe’s description speaks to the speed and impact of Satterley’s ascent. Before becoming known globally as PAC, he emerged from a wrestling environment that did not always offer an easy route to widespread exposure. Yet his ability was difficult to ignore. His work earned attention well beyond his home scene, and he went on to make an impression in Japan and in the United States.
That international journey is an important part of how PAC came to be viewed within wrestling. He was not simply recognized for spectacular physical feats, although his explosiveness and aerial ability were often central to the reaction he received. His intensity, pacing, technical confidence, and singular character work made him a complete performer in the eyes of many peers and fans.
Joe stressed that Satterley’s reputation was built on the quality of his work. In an industry filled with talented athletes, PAC developed a level of credibility that travelled with him from territory to territory. The reaction to his passing has reflected the breadth of that career, with figures throughout wrestling remembering a performer who had earned admiration across scenes and promotions.
“He was that good where, going from his work to Japan, even back in the States, everybody knew he was something special. Then you get the pleasure of meeting a guy like him and being his friend and kind of understanding the wonderful human being that he is.”
Beyond the wrestler known as ‘The Bastard’
On screen, PAC’s identity was built around a ruthless edge. His “Bastard” persona gave him a sharp and memorable voice, presenting him as fiercely competitive, confrontational, and unwilling to give an opponent any comfort. That presentation was effective because it felt so complete. PAC brought a level of conviction to every entrance, promo, and match that made his appearances feel consequential.
Joe’s remarks offer a different perspective, one that exists away from the persona and the bell. He remembered Satterley as “a wonderful human being,” emphasizing the person colleagues came to know behind the character. Tributes from within wrestling often carry added weight for that reason. Fans see the public performances, while wrestlers share the travel, the preparation, the locker rooms, and the recurring routines that create lasting friendships.
That distinction is at the heart of Joe’s message. PAC’s work had already established his standing as a special talent. But Joe made clear that getting to know Satterley personally added another dimension to that respect. The grief felt by those around him is rooted not just in the loss of a performer, but in the loss of someone whose friendship mattered.
Professional wrestling is frequently described as a demanding and close-knit business. Schedules can be relentless, and time with colleagues can become a major part of life. For performers who regularly share a promotion, returning to work after a loss can make the absence especially immediate. Familiar spaces, routines, and events can become reminders of the person who is no longer there.
‘A big empty hole’ in AEW
Joe addressed that reality directly when discussing what it has been like for those who expected to see Satterley as part of their regular work environment. His words were notably personal, focusing on the simple expectation of seeing a friend each week and the difficult realization that this is no longer possible.
“If anything for us it’s just it’s it’s just a big empty hole. We really miss having him around. We miss having an excuse to see him every week is kind of what we say. It’s tough going back to work and not seeing him there.”
The phrase “a big empty hole” captures the scale of the absence Joe described. It is not limited to a place on a card or a missing match on a show. It is the absence of a colleague from conversations, preparation, travel, and the ordinary moments that are rarely visible to the audience but shape life within a wrestling company.
Joe’s point about missing “an excuse to see him every week” is also especially affecting. Wrestling relationships are often sustained by the work itself. A television taping, pay-per-view, or live event becomes the opportunity to reconnect with people who may live far apart but remain linked by the same profession. When that routine is taken away, the loss becomes part of every return to the workplace.
Satterley’s wife issued a statement earlier this week regarding his passing. The wrestling community has continued to process the news since his death at the end of September, with remembrances centering on both the influence of his in-ring work and the personal impact he had on people who knew him.
Joe’s tribute does not attempt to turn that grief into a larger storyline or a simple statement of professional praise. Instead, it is a candid reflection from someone who saw both sides of Satterley: the athlete whose talent made him impossible to overlook and the friend whose absence now changes the experience of returning to work.
WrestleDream ahead for Samoa Joe
Joe is set to compete in the Clockwork Carnage match at AEW WrestleDream. The event will take place as AEW continues through a period in which performers, staff, and fans are carrying the memory of Satterley with them.
For Joe, the demands of competition remain in front of him. That is one of the difficult realities of professional wrestling: shows continue, matches are announced, and wrestlers are asked to perform while also dealing with personal loss. His comments make clear that going back into that environment has been difficult without PAC there.
Still, Joe’s words also underline the legacy Satterley leaves behind. His rise from an unlikely starting point into an internationally recognized talent served as proof of what his abilities could accomplish. His work in Japan and the United States ensured that audiences across the world saw what Joe and many others saw: a wrestler with rare gifts and a presence all his own.
Just as importantly, Joe remembered Benjamin Satterley as more than PAC. He remembered a friend, a “wonderful human being,” and someone whose company was valued by those fortunate enough to spend time with him. That is why the absence Joe described resonates so strongly. The wrestling world has lost a remarkable performer, while the people closest to him are mourning someone irreplaceable.
As AEW moves forward toward WrestleDream, Joe’s tribute stands as a heartfelt acknowledgment of that loss. PAC’s impact was international, his talent was unmistakable, and, in the words of one of his peers, the empty space left behind is felt every time they return to work and do not see him there.
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.