Marina Shafir and Lance Archer paid emotional tributes to PAC during a Warrior Wrestling event held just hours after All Elite Wrestling confirmed the death of the British wrestler at 40 years old. Both had shared the locker room with him in AEW, while Shafir was part of Death Riders, the faction led by Jon Moxley.
The news caused a huge commotion in the world of professional wrestling, especially because it occurred just a day after PAC's last appearance in the ring. The British wrestler had competed on Saturday at AEW All Out, where he faced Andrade "El Ídolo" for the AEW National Championship. Marina Shafir was precisely in his corner during that match and intervened at various moments to try to help her partner.
Shafir, visibly affected, climbed one of the ring corners to address the fans. The Death Riders member recalled that just 24 hours had passed since she had been with PAC at AEW All Out 2026. With a trembling voice, she explained that she had been able to hug him and talk to him the day before, before highlighting not only his qualities as a wrestler, but also the personality he showed away from the cameras.
Just yesterday I was hugging this man... Wrestling takes you to places in your mind... he was the best. He was the damn best. You know why? Because he knew himself. And I believe... he was so modest about how fascinating he was.
The relationship between both had been particularly reflected in recent months in AEW's programming. PAC and Shafir shared numerous segments and matches as members of Death Riders. One of them took place during AEW Collision Summer Blockbuster, where PAC, Shafir, Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and Daniel Garcia fought together in a violent Street Fight against Shane Taylor Promotions.
Shafir took the opportunity during her speech to ask the audience to express their feelings to their loved ones while they still have the chance. The wrestler explained that she had been able to tell PAC that she loved him just a few hours before his death. She also recalled the normality of that last conversation, in which they talked about everyday matters like dachshund dogs and basketball courts.
I don't know what to do. He was our light. Please, tell the people you love in your life that you love them. I was very happy to be able to tell him I loved him yesterday. We hugged and talked about dachshund dogs and basketball courts. About everything. He brought out the "bastard" inside me.
After finishing her words, Shafir grabbed a beer and asked the fans to observe a moment of silence in memory of her partner. Lance Archer then entered the ring to accompany her and join the tribute.
Archer had also spoken about PAC earlier during the event. The wrestler explained that he had considered whether he should compete after learning the news and decided to consult directly with Jon Moxley. The leader of Death Riders conveyed to him that we only have one life and that, in a situation like that, the best way to pay tribute to a partner was to step into the ring and do what they had dedicated their lives to.
You only have one life. One, that's it. You go out there and do what you do. Do it the best you can. Entertain the people who came and paid their money. And do it in honor and memory of our fallen brothers.
The words had a particularly painful meaning for the All Elite Wrestling locker room. Archer recalled other losses suffered by the company and mentioned Brodie Lee and Andy Williams, better known as The Butcher. The latter passed away in early September at 48 years old, just three weeks before PAC.
AEW had recently dedicated part of its programming to remember Williams. The company paid tribute to The Butcher during an episode of Collision that began with a ten-bell salute and featured numerous memories from his colleagues. His death, followed now by PAC's, has made September an especially tough month for the company's roster.
As Archer recounted, Moxley insisted that PAC would have wanted his partners to keep fighting and enjoying what they love. The message he conveyed was simple: lace up your boots, step into the ring, kick each other in the face, and enjoy life.
Lace up your boots, step into the ring, kick each other in the face, and enjoy life.
Shafir and Archer's tributes added to the numerous displays of affection that began to be published after AEW officially announced the death of Benjamin Satterley. The company remembered the British wrestler as someone who captivated fans worldwide with his innovative aerial moves and extraordinary skills in the ring.
PAC had been part of All Elite Wrestling since 2019 and had been a regular figure in the company since its early months of existence. Among other achievements, he became the first All-Atlantic Champion -a title later renamed as the International Championship- and won the Trios World Championship twice, first with Penta El Zero M and Rey Fénix as Death Triangle and later with Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta.
His last match took place on September 26 in Chicago. Accompanied precisely by Marina Shafir, PAC tried to snatch the AEW National Championship from Andrade in the first match of the main card of All Out. Andrade managed to surprise the British wrestler with a cover when he was trying to apply the Brutalizer, ending what would become PAC's final match of his career.
At the moment, the cause of his death has not been officially communicated. Both AEW and the information released so far have only confirmed his death and extended their condolences to family, friends, and fans.
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