Pittsburgh —

Emotion is a central theme at this moment, and it definitely filled the Petersen Events Center during a particularly somber episode of AEW Dynamite.

What was initially anticipated as AEW’s first show post the exciting All Out Pay-Per-View unfolded into a tribute to Benjamin Satterly, better known as “The Bastard” Pac, as the audience mourned his tragic passing.

Satterly died at the age of 40, mere hours after a stunning performance at All Out in Chicago where he faced Andrade el Idolo for the National Championship. In Pittsburgh, a city where he made his Dynamite main event debut, the promotion took time to honor their lost friend – a ritual they have unfortunately repeated too often.

Since its start in 2019, AEW has mourned the loss of four wrestlers. Back in December 2020, Jon Huber, who was cherished by fans as Mr. Brodie Lee, died after battling idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The tribute episode dedicated to him, the Brodie Lee Celebration of Life, remains a highlight in AEW’s history, featuring Huber’s son, Brodie, engaging in a six-man tag-team match. The evening culminated with a poignant moment where AEW chairman Tony Khan retired the iconic red strap design of the TNT Championship, a title made famous by Huber.

Then, in January 2023, Jay Briscoe (real name Jamin Pugh) tragically lost his life in a car accident. The January 25 episode of Dynamite honored Jay as his brother Mark faced their longtime friend Jay Lethal in the main event, a match Mark won in a moment that united the locker room in celebration of both the victory and his late brother.

Just weeks ago, Andy Williams, known as The Butcher, passed away following an independent show. He had been a key player in AEW’s tag team scene. His death came in a week meant for acknowledging another AEW star, Rebel, who is currently battling ALS. That Saturday, AEW paid tribute to Williams on Collision.

Then came Wednesday, where once more, the entire locker room gathered, bowing their heads in remembrance for Satterly with a 10-bell salute. As they lifted their heads, it was heartbreakingly evident that this locker room isn’t just sad; it feels exhausted. Exhausted from loss. Exhausted from 10-bell tributes. Exhausted from tears shed for friends departed.

Amid the sorrow, remarkably, they created maybe the best episode of wrestling television ever. The wrestling aspect, naturally, took a backseat to the emotions portrayed by the performers, but the brilliance and poignancy of their in-ring work became one of the most fitting ways to celebrate Pac.

The show started with a visibly shaken Excalibur introducing the broadcast, not as a tribute to Pac but to Ben. The man who transformed from a self-proclaimed “Bastard” into a lovable individual who cherished his job, his family, and even his pets, became the focus.

Tony Schiavone then took center stage, standing in the ring with a framed picture of Satterly accompanied by a floral wreath. Schiavone reflected on the essence of the man behind the persona, emphasizing how everyone could learn to live with kindness and humanity, just as Ben did.

A promo followed from Jon Moxley, a stablemate of Pac’s in Death Rider. After his match against Will Ospreay at All Out, Moxley spoke on the significance of valuing each day, remarking that once we leave this world, we are remembered for two things: what we did and who we were. In an eerily touching moment, the last figure visible before the scene cut was Pac, in what turned out to be his final appearance on screen.

The AEW locker room joined the stage, led by Tony Khan, to honor Pac with a meaningful 10-bell salute. The matches afterward paid homage to some memorable highlights from Pac’s career, without going step-by-step through each one.

The opening match featured Moxley facing off against Orange Cassidy, one of Pac’s greatest rivals. Both men channeled deep emotions, with Cassidy taking a moment to collect himself after the bell rang. They paid tribute to their past rivalry with a callback to a humorous moment that characterized their encounters. Moxley emerged as the victor, but the night was far from over. Bryan Danielson made a surprise entrance, further captivating the audience. Within the storyline, Moxley and the Death Riders were responsible for Danielson’s career-ending injury, yet they shared an emotional embrace as Danielson broke down in tears.

The Elite, comprising The Young Bucks, “Hangman” Adam Page, and Kenny Omega, reunited with Omega participating in his first match since losing the championship to Ospreay at All In. Facing off against The Don Callis Family, this match wasn’t necessarily filled with callbacks but showcased the company’s top group. “All ELITE Wrestling” thrives on moments like these. Adam Page reflected on his history with Pac before the match, reminiscing on their early days when Pac made a standout appearance at AEW’s launch press conference in full gear, which ultimately inspired the name of one of the company’s premier events, Full Gear.

The match ended with The Elite securing a victory following a combination V-Trigger and Buckshot, concluding with a BTE trigger from the Bucks.

Will Ospreay and Ricochet created a heartfelt tribute to Pac in their match, with several references to their matches alongside him and to the moves he famously performed in different wrestling promotions. Ospreay, who won the match after executing Pac’s signature Black Arrow, noted on social media that he practiced all day for it. He described it as a labor of love that honored Pac’s memory.

The women’s trios tag match that followed featured Persephone, Dr. Britt Baker, and Mercedes Mone against Thunder Rosa, Hyan, and Marina Shafir, who had also shared a bond with Pac. Shafir won the match with the brutalizer, a submission hold made famous by Pac. She competed on an independent show the day Pac passed, expressing her gratitude for having had the chance to convey her love for him.

Then we reached the main event, featuring The Don Callis Family against the Death Riders, with Moxley joining the commentary team after his earlier match. As the two factions prepared to face off, intrigue filled the air. Would it be a straightforward match, or would a surprise involvement occur? In a delightful twist, Bryan Danielson’s music hit, signaling his return and joining the Death Riders. The energy was palpable as Danielson, not just appearing but performing convincingly, took hits despite his previous injuries. The Death Riders won the match, and as they celebrated, a tribute video played, wrapping up the show with heartwarming nostalgia and memories of Pac, culminating in a final view of his empty chair that he would occupy during entrances, while chants of “He’s our Bastard” rang through the venue.

There truly aren’t enough words to recognize the efforts of everyone who made this show happen, particularly Jon Moxley. Even in his grief, he not only delivered an impressive match but also wove through the entire evening. While AEW boasts numerous incredible talents, Moxley remains the go-to representative, embodying the spirit of the promotion during challenging times.

The video tributes shared by colleagues and friends, including Cash Wheeler, Jay White, Page, Darby Allin, and others captured the essence of Pac, evoking both beauty and deep sorrow. AEW continues to shine in the realm of tribute shows, consistently delivering heartfelt displays of love and respect. Yet, it’s a bittersweet hope they will not find themselves needing to create another one in the future.

For those of us who only recognized him as Pac, it became overwhelmingly clear that he was so much more than just an incredible performer. It appears he was, indeed, an exceptional human being. So, embracing his own words, “Don’t you dare forget about The Bastard.”