AEW Brawl In The Ballpark: What A Fun Idea
Brawl In The Ballpark
Date: August 23, 2026
Location: Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Ian Riccaboni
This is one of those things that you see pop up every so often and it makes for different. In this case, it’s a special event that took place back in July after a Minnesota Twins game. That should make for something interesting, if nothing else for the rather unique atmosphere. Let’s get to it.
The ring appears to be set up either in the outfield or in the stands, with some camera shots showing the field in the background. That’s rather different and pretty cool.
Orange Cassidy vs. Wheeler Yuta
Yuta backs him up against the ropes to start as commentary talks about wrestling shows at baseball stadiums. They trade armdrags until Yuta gets in a full nelson, with Cassidy getting his hands in his pockets. Cassidy’s dropkick doesn’t get him very far as Yuta is right back with a suplex.
Yuta grabs a front facelock, with Cassidy getting up to send him into the buckles a few times. That earns Cassidy another knockdown but he gets his feet up to knock Yuta out of the air. Yuta falls outside and then gets back in, only for Cassidy to drop him with the Orange Punch for the pin at 8:12.
Rating: C. This was perfectly fine and a good way to get things going. The point of this show is to give fans a little taste of AEW so for the most part, it should be the good guys going over. Like him or not, Cassidy is certainly unique and it makes sense to put him out there to give the fans a look.
Komander/Top Flight vs. Opps/Action Andretti
Komander walks on the ropes to start as the fans don’t think much of Andretti. The pose off goes to the good guys and after about a minute and a half, Komander and Bowens lock up. Bowens gets the better of things and hits the running Fameasser so it’s off to Andretti vs. Dante. That means more posing before Dante knees him down for a standing moonsault. Darius comes in so Andretti flips over him, allowing Hook to get the tag.
Hook gets in a takedown and Darius is stomped down in the corner to keep him in trouble. Andretti’s springboard corkscrew Vader Bomb (cool….I think) gets two and it’s Bowens grabbing a chinlock. Darius gets up and tries a dive, with Hook stepping to the side ala Samoa Joe.
Darius knocks Andretti away though and it’s back to Komander to pick up the pace. A 450 hits Andretti for two and everything breaks down. Hook breaks up Cielito Lindo but Top Flight is back in for the save, allowing Komander to hit Bowens with a basement dropkick in the corner. The double double underhook DDT finishes Andretti at 14:18.
Rating: B. Dang it can be fun to watch a six man tag. They kept everything basic here and stuck to the simple concept and it worked rather well. Above all else, Top Flight got the win, which they should as this is their hometown. Nice job here and an entertaining match, with everyone getting a bit of focus.
Julia Hart vs. Hyan
Hyan takes her down to start and gets chopped but is fine enough to send Hart outside. That means a kick to the chest but Hart is back with a whip into the steps. Back in and an elbow puts Hyan down, setting up the chinlock. Hyan fights out and takes her up top for a sunset bomb and a near fall. Hart is right back up with an Octopus and Hyan taps out at 5:55.
Rating: C. Hart is another Minnesota star and there is no reason for her to lose here. It was another match between people who have nothing going on and Hart going over is hardly some devastating blow to Hyan. Getting the women on here is fine and Hart is the right choice all things considered.
Brian Cage vs. Serpentico
Serpentico is allowed to get a running start and charges into Cage, who laughs as Serpentico bounces off of him. Cage strikes away in the corner and gives him a release German suplex. Another toss lets Cage pose a bit more and the apron superplex finishes the destruction of at 4:46.
Rating: C. This was a total squash and a way for one of the villains to actually win something. At the same time, it’s not like Serpentico means anything so put the big, muscular monster out there and have his physique draw some attention. This was all it should have been and it was fine for a show like this one.
Shane Taylor Promotions vs. Hurt Syndicate
Before the match, the Promotions mock Minnesota sports teams and stars before calling out Minnesota’s Benjamin. Moriarty and Benjamin start things off with Moriarty grabbing a headlock. Benjamin is having none of Moriarty’s chops and knocks him down with a single chop of his own. Lashley comes in to elbow Moriarty in the corner but Moriarty gets in an arm snap over the top rope.
That just earns him a rather delayed suplex so Taylor comes in for the trash talk. Taylor cuts him off with a running forearm so Lashley gets in a shot of his own to put Taylor outside. The rest of the Promotions offer a distraction though and Taylor gets in a cheap shot to take over.
Moriarty grabs a front facelock back inside but Lashley fights out rather quickly. It’s back to Benjamin to clean house and Moriarty is knocked outside, allowing Bravo to come in as well. The attempted cheating earns Bravo a big toss out to the floor and the other two villains get back inside. That means a Hurt Lock to Moriarty and a spear to Taylor for the pin at 13:11.
Rating: C+. They threw out one more Minnesota star in Benjamin and let the Syndicate run through the Promotions to end the show. That’s another simple but effective way to wrap things up, as the Syndicate can get over just by being a pair of monsters. Taylor taking the fall is hardly surprising, as, well, what else was he going to do?
Post match Bravo comes in again but Orange Cassidy runs in to lay him out.
Overall Rating: C+. There was absolutely nothing worth going out of your way to see here (though I did like the six man) but it was exactly what it was supposed to be. This wasn’t meant to be some all time AEW show, but rather a quick sampler platter that AEW can tie in with something as big as Major League Baseball. It’s a quick (just over an hour) show and featured some AEW stars in entertaining matches. It didn’t take up any TV time and it was a unique feeling show in front of an audience that might have have seen AEW before. That’s a good thing and all things considered, this went rather well.
Results
Orange Cassidy b. Wheeler Yuta – Orange Punch
Komander/Top Flight b. Opps/Action Andretti – Double double underhook DDT to Andretti
Julia Hart b. Hyan – Octopus
Brian Cage b. Serpentico – Apron superplex
Hurt Syndicate b. Shane Taylor Promotions – Spear to Taylor
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