According to dispatch audio obtained by the California Post, AEW wrestler Pac was found unresponsive inside a parked car outside a CAVA restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois, on Sunday afternoon.
Concerned bystanders noticed the 40-year-old slumped over in the driver&#8217;s seat around 4:00 PM and quickly dialed 911, with patrons even checking inside the restaurant for first-aid equipment to try and assist him before emergency crews could reach the scene.
First responders arrived shortly after dispatchers were notified of an unconscious person who might not be breathing, but despite the rapid intervention, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office officially pronounced him dead at 4:08 PM, with an official cause of death still awaiting the results of an autopsy.
It was also noted that there were no indications of trauma or foul play, and Pac&#8217;s death doesn&#8217;t appear suspicious.

Pac Was Found Unresponsive In His Car Before Death

Pac won the AEW Trios Championship along with Penta and Rey Fenix in 2022. They were known as Death Triangle.
As we previously noted, WWE RAW star Penta posted the following about Pac&#8217;s death on his Instagram story:
&#8220;God be with you and your family! &#x1f62d; Love you &#x2764;&#xfe0f; forever PAC&#8221;
SmackDown star &amp; AAA Cruiserweight Champion Rey Fenix wrote:
“I will love you forever, brothers forever, Death triangle forever &#x2764;&#xfe0f;
Te amo Pac&#8217;cito.”

Rey Fenix Reacts To Pac’s Death

Kevin Nash didn&#8217;t enjoy Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins at SummerSlam 2026, and he&#8217;s done with WWE because of that. Here&#8217;s what he said on his Kliq This podcast:
&#8220;The problem was the business turned more and more high spot, and less and less psychology. It&#8217;s like 12 minutes of high spots. Is that it? That&#8217;s it for me. I&#8217;m done.
I think the match that Roman and Seth had, when the ref went down and they f***ing basically no-sold each other&#8217;s f***ing finishes for 5 minutes, I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve come back. Like, I haven&#8217;t come back to wrestling.&#8221;

Kevin Nash Says He’s Done With WWE After Watching Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins

After enduring a grueling road to recovery that sidelined him for half a year, former WWE SmackDown wrestler Santos Escobar, now known as Romeo Malverde, officially stepped back between the ropes on September 27.
Malverde joined forces with Blue Demon Jr. to take on Magno and Steven Juarez at the 5th International Lucha Libre Festival in Ciudad Juarez, marking his first appearance inside a ring since his WWE release.
The extended hiatus came after a rough stretch where he suffered a tricep tear that required surgery, followed closely by a second procedure on an ulnar nerve right around the time WWE released him from his contract in April.
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Gracias. ❤️‍🔥👑🍀 <a href="https://t.co/YIISXBY3Ss">pic.twitter.com/YIISXBY3Ss</a>
&mdash; Romeo Malverde 💀❤️‍🔥🇲🇽 (@JBElFantasma) <a href="https://x.com/JBElFantasma/status/2104591747099525163?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Santos Escobar / Romeo Malverde Wrestles First Match After WWE Release

AEW wrestler Ricochet posted the following about Pac&#8217;s death:
&#8220;After giving it some time, I still don&#8217;t quite know what to say. What can I say that hasn&#8217;t already been said about Ben? I start to get angry at myself for not being able to help the situation at all. Then I get sad all over again knowing my friend is gone. My heart is truly hurting.
I send my condolences to his family and to our locker room. He was a class act through and through.
Gravity may have forgotten him. But I know we will never forget him.
I love you, Ben.&#8221;

“I start to get angry at myself for not being able to help the situation at all” – Ricochet On Pac’s Death

More wrestling stars paid tribute to Pac:
Sting: Extremely talented. Nothing he couldn’t do. Loved and respected by all of us. God bless Pac’s family
John Cena:
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John Cena remembers Pac 🙏 <a href="https://t.co/Oqoa0N1G6N">pic.twitter.com/Oqoa0N1G6N</a>
&mdash; WrestleFeed (@WrestleFeedApp) <a href="https://x.com/WrestleFeedApp/status/2104603965870743699?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Big E: I can’t believe Ben is not here anymore. My jaw was on the floor any time I had the privilege to watch him work. He moved in ways I didn’t previously think possible in the ring. But more importantly, he was a gentleman. Someone I truly respected as a man. Ben was loved by so many of the people he shared a locker room with. My heart goes out to his lovely wife and the rest of his family.
Byron Saxton: Benjamin Satterly (PAC/Neville) was such a kind and humble human being. Inside the ring, his breathtaking athleticism looked masterful and effortless. I have been extremely fond of Ben since his first day at NXT and everything he achieved from that point on was a heart filling joy to watch. May God bless and comfort his family as he will forever be remembered as an esteemed member of our Professional Wrestling fraternity.
TNA: We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Benjamin Satterley, better known as Pac. We offer our deepest condolences to his friends, family and fans.
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We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Benjamin Satterley, better known as Pac. We offer our deepest condolences to his friends, family and fans. <a href="https://t.co/jnFbmlvkgO">pic.twitter.com/jnFbmlvkgO</a>
&mdash; TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) <a href="https://x.com/ThisIsTNA/status/2104586286778724738?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Leon Slater: A measuring stick for everyone from our country. Countless car rides and conversations I’ve had, all of us striving to hopefully one day reach his level and match his impact. He made it possible and I will forever be thankful.

Sting, John Cena, Big E & More Pay Tribute To Pac

While remembering Pac, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis revealed that he met Pac before SummerSlam 2026:
&#8220;What an awful loss.
I ran into Ben at a restaurant near Nashville Airport a few weeks ago. I am so grateful that happened now. It was so good to see him. We were reminiscing about the first time we connected on MSN messenger(!) over 20 years ago, and what a ride it had been since then. He wished me luck for my match at Summerslam, and I told him he was still the best.
We both had silly grins on our face from being genuinely surprised and happy to have bumped into each other. That will be how I remember him; just the nicest, most humble man despite being objectively the most talented in ring performer of our generation, perhaps ever.
I spent last night talking to people who knew Ben and loved him. There are many. My prayers and condolences to his family and loved ones. He was the best of us.
God Speed PAC.
&#x1f5a4;&#8221;

Pac Was Found Unresponsive In His Car Before Death

Rey Fenix Reacts To Pac’s Death

Kevin Nash Says He’s Done With WWE After Watching Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins

Santos Escobar / Romeo Malverde Wrestles First Match After WWE Release

“I start to get angry at myself for not being able to help the situation at all” – Ricochet On Pac’s Death

Sting, John Cena, Big E & More Pay Tribute To Pac

Nick Aldis Accidentally Met Pac Before SummerSlam 2026: “I am so grateful that happened now”