January in The Heartland
Denver Coliseum
Friday January 25th 1983
 
Tag Team Match
Fishman & El Solitario Vs Prince Maivia & Superfly Tui
This match between two high flying tag teams is an exciting way to open the card. Quick tags and high impact moves make it so neither team can get the advantage enough to take the win and after 20 minutes of non-stop action, the match is declared a draw.
Winner: The match is declared a 20 minute time limit draw
 
Tag Team Match
The Pretty Boys (Larry Sharpe & Doug Somers) Vs Brad Rheinghans & Steve Williams
Sharpe & Somers cannot outwrestle the rookie amateur team of Rheinghans & Williams, but using their guile and experience to defeat the former Olympian and collegiate star, the match ending when Somers successfully rolls up Williams in a school boy, holding the tights for the pin.
Winner: The Pretty Boys are victorious in this tag team match
 
US. Junior Championship
Tim Horner (c) Vs Lizmark
Horner, fooling around with the Mexican superstar, does not take this match seriously. Nearly capturing 2 full 3 counts just makes Horner fool around more. That however does not get Horner ready for a quick, lucha styled attack from Lizmark that ends with a springboard armdrag and then a plancha that stuns Horner enough for Lizmark to get the 3 and the title.
Winner: Lizmark is the new US junior Champion
 
Grudge Match
Blackjack Lanza Vs Baron Von Raschke
These two veteran brawlers take at it as soon as the bell rings. Baron takes the fight to the television champion in this non-title match that puts the champion on the defensive, even making the brawl head to the outside of the ring more than once. It was during one of these forays outside, that neither man makes it back in, ending the match in a double count out.  
Winner: This match is declared a double count out
 
Single Match
Greg Gagne Vs Jumbo Tsuruta
This is a clinic of holds and counters that marvel both fans and the wrestlers in the back alike. For every move Tsuruta attempted, Gagne had a counter, with the opposite happening when Gagne tried to push the upper hand. At the 18 minute mark, Gagne catches the larger Tsuruta in the Gagne Sleeper that takes out the Japanese wrestler.  
Winner: Greg Gagne
 
Single Match
Adrian Adonis w. Jesse Ventura Vs Ray Stevens w. Nick Bockwinkel
The AWA world tag team champions talk strategy while the United States tag team champions do the same. As the bell rings, Adonis and Ventura stall as long as they can until referee Marty Miller forces Ventura to go to ringside or risk Adonis being dq’ed. Adonis and Stevens lock up but every chance Adonis has, he stalls, hides behind the ref and more. Stevens gets distracted by Ventura at ringside as well…that is until Bockwinkel takes Ventura in to his own hands, attacking the world tag champion. Marty Miller flees to the outside and attempts to split up Ventura and Bockwinkel but all that does is allow Adonis to level Stevens with a low blow. Miller sees the pin attempt and comes back in time to count the 3 on Stevens and award the victory to Adonis.  
Winner: Adrian Adonis is victorious
 
Main Event For the United States Heavyweight Championship
“Jumping” Jim Brunzell © Vs “Sheik” Adnan El-Kaisee  
The boos are resounding as El-Kaisee makes his way to the ring and the crowd changes their tune as the United States heavyweight champion comes to the ring next. El-Kaisee gets distracted as the chant “USA…USA…USA” echoes around him from this hugely pro US crowd. Adnan tries every dirty tactic he knows but in the end it does not help. Brunzell ends the match with a huge dropkick at the 17 minute 23 second mark.  
Winner: Jim Brunzell retains the championship
 
 
January in The Heartland: Championship Night
MECCA Arena – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Sunday January 27th 1983
 
Tag Team Match
The Guerreros Vs Weingroff & Poffo
This is a junior weight tag team dream match that pits the brothers, Mando & Hector against two men who are like brothers, Poffo & Weingroff. Great back and forth action that riles up the crowd but gets neither team a long term advantage. After 20 minutes of hard hitting action, the match is declared a draw, with both teams showing respect with a handshake after.
Winner: The match is a 20 minute time limit draw
 
US Junior Title Match
Lizmark © Vs Greg Gagne
The new US junior champion comes to the ring for his first defense and it is a doozy of a match. Greg Gagne comes to the ring amid cheers as well but clearly the fans are torn on whom to support more. Gagne’s ground wrestling meshes well against the highflying of Lizmark in a great contrast of styles. After 14 minutes of fantastic action, Lizmark leaps off the ropes and catches Gagne in a flying head scissors that knocks Gagne down for the 3 count.  
Winner: Lizmark retains
 
Tag Team Match
The Longriders Vs The Henning’s
This match breaks down in to a brawl quicker than you can count to three. Scott & Bill Irwin roughhouse as much as they can, successfully against the smaller Curt Hennig, but the big “ax” quickly throws his massive weight around in defense. Feeling confident, Larry tags in his son and Curt outwrestles Bill, the legal Irwin, until a thumb to Curt’s eye, allows Bill to tag Scott. Using Bill to distract Larry, Scott gets Curt up for the superplex and the pin.
Winner: The Longriders are victorious
 
Grudge Match: Special Referee The Crusher
Baron Von Raschke Vs Blackjack Lanza
This rematch from a few nights ago does not fare any better. It breaks down very quickly, this time however, The Crusher is there to try to keep the match in order. That does not last as Crusher is not known for his restraint and soon enough he gets involved as well until the match is a three way brawl and a no contest.
Winner: The match is broken down in to a no contest
 
United States Tag Team Title
Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens © Vs Fishman & El Solitario
The US champions are thrown for a loop at the beginning, not being used to the high flying antics of the luchadores. That is short lived however as Stevens grounds Fishman enough to start working on the legs, keeping him down enough that a suitable offence could not be had. After 16 minutes, the match ends after Stevens tags in Bockwinkel and “Tricky” Nick wraps Fishman in the figure four for the submission win.  
Winner: Bockwinkel & Stevens retain
 
AWA World Tag Team Title Match
Adrian Adonis & Jesse Ventura (c) Vs Kendo Nagasaki & Jumbo Tsuruta
The world tag champs are ready and willing to take the fight to the Japanese wrestlers. Adonis & Tsuruta mixed it up with some great wrestling that puts on a show for the fans. However, when Adonis could not get the best of Jumbo, a tag to the more powerful Ventura changed that. Tsuruta makes the tag to Nagasaki and the brawling is on. Adonis and Ventura decide they would rather just leave to the back with the titles over fighting some more with the Japanese wrestlers, taking the count out loss.
Winner: Adrian Adonis & Jesse Ventura retain their world tag team titles but do not win the match.
 
United States Heavyweight Title
Jim Brunzell (c) Vs “Sheik” Adnan El-Kaisee
In another rematch from two days ago, again the crowd starts with a “USA….USA….USA” chant that throws the “Sheik” off his game right from the start. This however is a set up. As soon as Brunzell gets the upper hand, Adnan throws fire in to the face of the US champion, taking him out. The referee disqualifies Adnan but the damage is done.  
Winner: Brunzell retains his championship via DQ
 
MAIN EVENT FOR THE AWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE
Jerry “The King” Lawler © Vs Bad News Allen
“The King” is busy from the get go as the Olympian Allen is there to fight. Lawler may be used to brawling and even some wrestling but the skill of an Olympic judo champion is a bit too much at first. Once Lawler proves too difficult for an easy win, Allen resorts to throwing the fists, something that Lawler himself can do. Not used to someone who can throw down like Lawler can, Allen complains to the referee about the closed fists. As he does, Lawler takes the chance to roll up Allen in a school boy for the three count and the win.
Winner: Jerry Lawler retains the title

Denver:
Nice last efforts from Williams and Horner. Gagne beating Tsuruta was big, literally. Great to see the vets Bockwinkel and stevens paired together.
 
Milwaukee:
Gotta say that Lizmark beating Gagne was unexpected but intriguing. The Hennigs going up against the arrogant Irwins works. Ventura/Adonis and Bock/Stevens with nice wins. Bad News getting a shot against Lawler would have been entertaining.

Great action in the Hearland of the AWA.