Tidd Talk

In this final part of our tribute to the late, great Benjamin Satterly, we reflect on what was one of the most emotional wrestling shows in recent memory.

On Wednesday, September 30^th, AEW put on a beautiful tribute show to their lost brother, PAC. The broadcast was filled with action and matches featuring PAC’s greatest rivals and friends throughout the years. This article is not a traditional review, but rather a way for me to express my gratitude to PAC and AEW for putting on such a touching tribute for one of professional wrestling’s finest.

Opening Salute and Moxley vs. Cassidy

The show opened with Tony Schiavone in the ring explaining the significance of the night. AEW then aired the promo cut by Jon Moxley following his loss to Will Ospreay on Saturday at All Out, which we covered in Part 1. Next came a deeply moving ten-bell salute, during which the entire AEW roster struggled to hold back tears for their fallen brother. It was an emotional sight that tugged at the heartstrings, and it was only the beginning of the evening.

The card officially opened with the leader of the Death Riders, Jon Moxley, putting his Continental Championship on the line against Orange Cassidy, one of PAC’s most notable rivals in AEW. During Moxley’s entrance through the Death Riders tunnel, the camera panned to an empty chair draped with a towel in honor of PAC.

The bout saw Mox and OC pay tribute to PAC by referencing classic spots from the memorable PAC vs. OC match at Revolution 2020. Despite Mox holding a clear physical advantage, the match was contested competitively and technically. It featured classic OC beats—hands in pockets, light shin kicks, and even the callback where OC repeatedly avoided engagement by rolling out of the ring.

Moxley ultimately defeated Cassidy to retain his title. Afterwards, we saw a visibly emotional Moxley sitting in the ring before Bryan Danielson’s music hit. “The American Dragon” came out wearing a PAC shirt and stood across from Moxley, and the two shared a meaningful embrace to loud cheers from the crowd.

I admire both competitors, so seeing this moment unfold was special. While I won’t dissect every detail of the match, having these two open the night truly set the tone for everything that followed.

The Elite Reunion

Next, we saw The Elite take on the Don Callis Family in an eight-man tag team match. PAC may never have been an official member of The Elite, but as a Day 1 AEW talent, he was instrumental in establishing the company. It felt entirely fitting for The Elite to reunite in his honor.

Kenny Omega, Adam Page, Nick Jackson, and Matt Jackson battled Kevin Knight, Kyle Fletcher, Rocky Romero, and Trent Beretta.

The Don Callis Family jumped out to an early advantage right after the opening bell, wrestling with their signature heel intensity and drawing heavy boos from the crowd.

The audience needed a uplifting moment, and this match delivered. The reunion of The Elite was one of the most significant highlights of the evening, and securing the victory in triumphant fashion allowed the fans to share in the emotion.

Overall, the match was highly entertaining and provided a true feel-good moment, proving just how deeply PAC impacted everyone on the roster—including those he shared the ring with less frequently.

High-Flying Homages

Swerve Strickland and the New Level then came to the ring to pay their respects, holding up their Trios Championship belts and laying them down alongside one of PAC’s towels—a fitting tribute to PAC’s immense impact on the trios division through his runs with the Death Riders and Death Triangle.

Next came what was, in my opinion, the finest match of the night: a showdown between two of PAC’s greatest rivals and friends, Ricochet and Will Ospreay.

PAC was universally regarded as one of the premier high-flyers in the world. Pairing two other world-renowned high-flyers and close friends in his honor was a perfect piece of booking.

Ricochet and Ospreay embraced before the bell. Ospreay hyped up the crowd for the instant classic ahead before they locked up. The match pulled out all the stops, incorporating signature spots from PAC’s career and executing his moves as a direct homage.

The climax arrived when Ospreay hit Ricochet with a Hidden Blade, climbed to the top turnbuckle, and executed PAC’s signature Black Arrow for the pinfall. Ospreay broke down in tears immediately after the victory.

Renee Paquette then read a heartfelt statement on behalf of PAC’s family. Words cannot fully do the message justice, and it only deepened everyone’s sympathy for his loved ones and colleagues.

Marina Shafir’s Emotional Send Off to her “Bastardly Brother”

A women’s trios match followed, featuring Mercedes Moné, Persephone, and Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. against Hyan, Thunder Rosa, and Marina Shafir.

Shafir was visibly emotional during her entrance, and you could tell how much this night meant to her. She honored PAC the best way possible—by giving her absolute all in the ring during an extraordinarily difficult time.

Though it took a moment for the competitors to find their rhythm given their contrasting styles, they ultimately put together a compelling contest.

While it may not have been the technical peak of the night, it made me feel deeply for Marina. Her post on X following the news was one of the first I saw, and it resonated powerfully: “My bastard brother… where did you go?”

Shafir ultimately secured the victory using PAC’s signature Brutalizer submission, marking a poignant moment for her.

Main Event: Death Riders Stand Tall

Finally, the main event featured a 10-man tag team match between the Death Riders and the Don Callis Family. Originally announced to include Moxley, Wheeler Yuta, Daniel Garcia, Claudio Castagnoli, and Gabe Kidd, the Death Riders team initially appeared short-handed when Moxley took a seat at the commentary table.

When asked, Moxley simply remarked, “You have to roll with the punches,” before the Death Riders’ theme music began—followed immediately by Bryan Danielson’s entrance music.

Having Danielson step in added something truly special to the main event. Many fans, myself included, never expected to see Danielson back in the ring, making it a rare and unforgettable surprise.

This was easily the highlight of the night, and the match that followed accomplished everything it set out to do. It showcased the Don Callis Family as heat-seeking villains while giving the audience a thrilled, energetic performance centered around Danielson competing in PAC’s memory.

The Death Riders ultimately stood victorious. The match was filled with great spots and high energy, achieving its goal perfectly. Moments like this transcend professional wrestling.

Final Thoughts

I hope that as you read this, you can look back on the legacy of the man known as PAC as fondly as I do. He will be deeply missed and remembered as one of the greatest pure wrestlers of our generation.

AEW has navigated a difficult period recently, and while these circumstances are never what anyone would choose, it has brought the wrestling community closer together. It serves as a reminder of how supportive this community can be and gives me genuine hope for the future of the industry.

This broadcast was unlike any other wrestling show I’ve watched all year. It was a beautiful, raw display of emotion showing what this business means to people beyond the ring. Loss is an inevitable part of life, and while it is painful, we can control how we honor and remember those we’ve lost. This episode of Dynamite was a masterclass in doing just that.

Ben was an extraordinary talent, but to the wrestling world, his friends, and his family, he was an even better human being. We will miss you, Ben.