JBL shared that from the moment Neville arrived in WWE, his social media presence was unmatched compared to other roster members. On the podcast Something To Wrestle with Conrad Thompson, the WWE Hall of Famer—who participated in WWE’s creative and production meetings as a commentator—explained that the company had just begun tracking social media impressions when Neville transitioned from NXT.
“They noted how many impressions he was generating, consistently doubling those of everyone else since social media reports had only recently started,” JBL said. “Neville consistently earned twice as many impressions as anyone else, which was remarkable. He was a world-class talent and genuinely a great person.” JBL also mentioned that Vince McMahon envisioned Neville as a superhero-like character, though that role was already occupied.
“Vince loved the idea of Mighty Mouse and wanted Neville to embody that, but Rey Mysterio already filled that niche,” JBL recalled. “Rey’s character themes were modeled after Vince’s perception of Mighty Mouse. I pushed for Neville to be positioned similarly, as he was an ideal fit for it.”
Neville, born Benjamin Satterley and known in AEW as PAC, passed away at age 40 on September 27, one day after wrestling Andrade at AEW All Out in Chicago. He joined WWE in 2012, held the NXT Championship and WWE Cruiserweight Championship, but left in 2018 following a hiatus of several months.
His distinctive high-flying moves truly set him apart. Thompson highlighted that when WWE’s video game partners used stand-ins for motion capture, no one could replicate Neville’s Black Arrow finisher (called Red Arrow in WWE), necessitating his actual performance for accuracy. AEW dedicated a tribute episode of Dynamite in Pittsburgh on Wednesday in his honor.
JBL described the nature of tribute shows for wrestlers, noting that WWE follows a standard format due to their experience with such events.
“The shows usually follow a template: babyfaces win, storylines aren’t progressed, and it’s about honoring the individual,” JBL said. “You don’t want to be there emotionally, but you do it out of respect and love for your friend and to preserve their legacy for family and fans. Still, you’re eager to go home afterward.”
He recalled WWE’s SmackDown tribute to Eddie Guerrero in 2005, taped on November 13 and aired five days later, where JBL faced Chavo Guerrero. Despite discussions about him winning the match, he refused.
“They considered having me win, but absolutely not,” he explained. “I wanted to work with Chavo and have him beat me with a frog splash, which we did. I was grateful to share the ring with Chavo and that he came through it.”
JBL also praised Corey Graves for his tribute to Neville on the WWE and AAA Worlds Collide broadcast, noting that he added his own reflections.
“Corey’s tribute was heartfelt and fitting,” JBL said. Thompson recommended fans revisit Neville’s match against Sami Zayn at NXT TakeOver: R Evolution in December 2014, where Zayn captured the NXT Championship, as a standout performance to honor Neville’s legacy.
Fan Take: Neville’s remarkable social media impact and unique in-ring style show how influential and beloved he was in wrestling. His legacy emphasizes the importance of character authenticity and fan connection, shedding light on how modern wrestling can evolve to honor the diverse talents shaping the sport’s future.
Source: wrestlingnews.co
