AEW star Pac’s cause of death has been shared
The wrestling community was heartbroken last month when British wrestler Benjamin Slattery, aged 40, passed away suddenly. Fans knew him as PAC in AEW and Neville in WWE. He was found unresponsive outside a restaurant near O’Hare International Airport, just a day after wrestling at AEW’s All Out event.
A passerby driving a rental car noticed him slumped over in a vehicle and called 911, but sadly, he was already gone. There were no signs of foul play or injury, and the cause of his sudden death has now been shared.
On Friday, October 16, a spokesperson from the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office told the New York Post that after investigating, they ruled Slattery’s death was natural and caused by bronchial asthma. Severe asthma attacks can quickly narrow the airways, making it very hard to breathe and can be life-threatening.
Benjamin Slattery was born in Newcastle and started his wrestling career in the British independent scene. He later worked in Japan and the US, becoming famous for his tough style and amazing aerial moves. He gained worldwide fame wrestling with top groups like AEW, WWE (as Adrian Neville), New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre.
Fans and wrestlers called him ‘The Man Gravity Forgot’ because of his incredible high-flying moves, especially his signature Red Arrow—a corkscrew 450-degree splash from the top rope.
Tributes poured in after his death, including one from Marina Shafir, a fellow Death Riders stable member, who said, “He was so humble about how amazing he was. I wouldn’t be where I am today without having shared time with him.”
AEW president Tony Khan described Ben as a symbol of excellence, praising his wrestling skill, amazing athleticism, and professionalism. He said, “May Ben rest in peace.”
WWE star Rhea Ripley remembered Slattery as “extremely talented” and said it hurts her heart to know their fun, cheeky moments at shows are now just memories.
AEW’s weekly “Dynamite” show paid an emotional tribute to Ben a few days after his passing. His family shared a statement saying, “He wasn’t just one of the UK’s greatest wrestlers — he was a kind, honorable man who loved his family and his dog, Wolfie.”
His wife, Natalie, thanked him “for our beautiful life” and wrote, “We will do our best to get through this nightmare and take care of each other like I know you would want. But we will miss you every minute of every day.”