American West Championship Wrestling from Las Vegas taped 12-4-82 at WGN TV studios in Chicago  for broadcast on KVVW TV Channel 5 in Las Vegas on Saturday 12-8-82 at 12noon. Host Gene Okerlund.
 
 
Gene welcomes everyone to the show and says Andre the Giant is hot on the The Sheik. He then shows a VTR from the Night of Champions in Chicago.  
 
 
VTR: Andre came out with bandages wrapped around his eyes and was led to the ring by promoter Bob Luce. Adnan joined his tag team partner, The Sheik and the two laughed as Andre came to the ring with a roar of applause. The Sheiks had their back to Andre and taunted the crowd. The crowd cheered as Andre unwrapped his bandages as the bell rang. When the Sheiks turned around they saw Andre, his eyes glaring at them. Adnan immediately ran to the back to escape, The Sheik wasn’t as fortunate as Andre battered him all over the ring. At 10:34, The Giant picked up the win by pinfall.
 
Gene says the good news is obviously Andre’s injuries while painful weren’t as bad as originally thought. He then is joined by Lord James Blears, the President of American West Wrestling from Las Vegas. Blears says just because Andre is back in action doesn’t take away from the wrongdoing last week here on Television.  
 
Sheik Adnan and The Sheik come out without the American West Tag Team Titles. Blears says he stripped the Sheiks of the belts earlier this week as punishment for using fire to blind Andre. The Sheiks start to protest, but Blears cuts them off.  
 
He adds, they will be allowed to team up for the tournament for the American West Tag Team Titles as the opening round is today here on television. Blears asks Adnan if they want in the tournament. Adnan says they do and says they will wrestle second today.  
 
The unhappy Sheiks leave as Gene says the first match in the opening round is in the ring…
 
American West Tag Team Tournament (Opening Round)
MATCH 1 – PRINCE MAIVIA & SUPERFLY TUI vs KEVIN KELLY & TIM HORNER w/Gentleman Jim
The match is fast paced and furious as both young teams go at each other. Maivia and Tui win by disqualification at 9:03 when Kelly throws Tui over the top rope. Both teams continue to battle in to the commercial break.  
 
 
 
BREAK 1 ===============0000==================================
 
 
 
Billy Anderson is being interviewed by Gene Okerlund when he is once again interrupted by Mr. Las Vegas Jody Arnold. This time however, Arnold is in wrestling attire.  
 
Anderson is a bit annoyed by the interruption, but Jody is all smiles.  
 
Arnold: “What a fantastic day to be in Las Vegas, huh guys?”  
 
Gene: “Why yes it is a great day and I see Mr. Arnold you have interrupted Mr. Anderson’s interview time again?”
 
Arnold: “All for a good reason, I assure you.”  
 
Anderson: “Yeah to get his mug on television some more. What do you want, Jody? I have already told you, I don’t want to be your tag team partner.”  
 
Arnold: “Well, too late for that, Sport! You already are. We are the next match in the tournament.”  
 
Gene: “What?”  
 
Anderson looking incredulously at Arnold: “Oh no, Jody, Don’t tell me you did this?”  
 
Arnold: “Okay, I won’t tell you, Billy. But I did! It’ll be great, you’ll see.”
 
With that Arnold goes to the ring as Billy has his hands on his hips and looks at Gene. “I can’t believe this”, he says before going to the ring.  
 
 
American West Tag Team Tournament (Opening Round)
MATCH 2 - JODY ARNOLD & BILLY ANDERSON vs LARRY JONES & BILL WHITE
The reluctant Anderson and the energetic Arnold work surprisingly well together as Arnold beats Jones with a Brain buster and Anderson prevents White from interfering with the win at 6:45.  
 
 
 
Kevin Kelly and Tim Horner come out with their manager Jimmy Holiday. Holiday says his men were robbed and demand a rematch. He says no matter who wins the tournament, they want a shot at the belts.  
 
 
 
BREAK 2 ======00000000==========
 
 
 
Prince Maivia and Superfly Tui join Gene Okerlund, Maivia say they are ready to become American West Tag Team Champions. Tui says no matter the competition they are ready for anything.  
 
American West Tag Team Tournament (Opening Round)
MATCH 3 SHEIK ADNAN EL KAISEE & THE SHEIK def FRANK MONTE & RICKY RICKARD in 7:00. After Adnan pins Monte, Rickard saves him from being attacked further by The Sheiks.  
 
The Sheiks come over to Gene Okerlund and tell him, they will destroy every team in their wake to regain the tag team belts.  
 
 
BREAK 3 ================000000====================
 
 
The Ragin’ Bull Manny Fernandez comes out and says it’s time Wahoo McDaniel gives him a fair shot at the AWA World Title. He says the last time the two met, Wahoo couldn’t get the job done and had to have help by “some old geezer.”
 
Fernandez: “Come Sunday December 30th at the Dunes. Brother, I am making it my New Year’s Resolution to beat you for the belt you old Indian and go into 1983 as the world champion."
 
American West Tag Team Tournament (Opening Round)
MATCH 4 – BLACKJACK LANZA & JULES STRONGBOW def THE GOLDEN BOYS: LARRY SHARPE & SONNY ROGERS in 6:55.
 
Lanza and Strongbow go over to Gene Okerlund and Lanza says they are ready for The Sheiks and anyone else. Strongbow says he has a score to settle with the new world tag team champions, Adrian Adonis and Jesse Ventura.  
 
Okerlund says after the break they will take a look at how Adonis and Ventura became world tag team champions.  
 
 
BREAK 4 ==============0000======================
 
 
 
Gene welcomes us back to the show and shows a VTR from Windy City Championship Wrestling’s Night of Champions.  
 
VTR:  At the 25minute mark, it was Ventura capturing Jerry in the figure four leglock. Valiant faked an entry into the ring, that distracted Jack. Adonis then climbed onto the second rope and did a splash onto the legs of Ventura and Jerry. Jack and the referee turned to see what had happened but Adonis was already out of the ring, and the younger Brisco was in a world of hurt. Brisco tried to attack Adonis but the referee, Jimmy Bunning, pulled him away. Once, Jack was out of the ring, Ventura yelled for Brisco to submit, but Jerry wouldn’t do it.
 
 Finally, Ventura released the hold and tagged in Adonis who grabbed the injured leg and turned Jerry over in a half crab. At 31:12, Jerry Brisco had more pain then he could bear and submitted under the pressure of Adonis’s half crab. Adonis immediately released the hold and the ring announcer made the announcement: “At 31 minutes and 12 seconds, Jerry Brisco submitted the referee, James Bunning has awarded the match to the NEW AWA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS, ADRIAN ADONIS AND JESSE VENTURA.
 
 
When the camera comes back to Gene, he is joined by the World Tag Team Champions, Adrian Adonis and Jesse Ventura. Adonis says they definitely are fighting champions as it’s been two days since they’ve won the belts and they’ve been in two fights already. Ventura adds, “these are the belts everyone wants, Gene. These are the belts no one else will hold but me and Adrian!”
 
 
Okerlund goes to throw it to the ring for the last match in the show but notices Austin Idol talking to the referee and his scheduled opponent, Gary Royal.  
 
“Gary Royal, I am giving you an opportunity you will only get in Las Vegas, Dallin’. I will give you this crisp $500 Dollar Bill, if you will wear this mask while wrestling me tonight! Yes, that’s right, it’s legit. President McKinley’s face is on the Five Hundred Dollar Bill. Five Hundred Dollars, Baby! It’s all yours. Go have fun at the casinos, go get yourself one of those painted ladies, give it to your Grandmother for all I care.”
 
Royal thinks about it for a second, then accepts the offer and puts the money in his trunks, to which Idol quips, “That might be the safest place to put the money, of course it won’t grow any interest!”
 
 
MATCH 5 – AUSTIN IDOL defeats a “masked” GARY ROYAL in 5:28, then he rips the mask off Royal after the match and calls out for Mil Mascaras.  
 
Idol comes over to Gene Okerlund who asks what that was all about?  
 
Idol: “I’ll tell you what it is all about Gene Baby! It’s all about getting Millard Mascaras, to come out of hiding, and put his American West Title on the line against me! I know he’s down in Mexico right now making some B-Movie with midgets and wanna be vampires, but he has an obligation to defend his belt against real competition. “  
 
“So until Millington gives me a title shot, I am going to beat every masked wrestler in the world. Today, I beat a masked wrestler…”  
 
Gene: “I don’t think you can call Gary Royal a masked wrestler.”  
 
Idol: “Are you interrupting?  He’s a wrestler and he wore a mask. I think his name was El Royale or something. Doesn’t matter. All that matters  is I get a shot at the American West Heavyweight Title or there are going to be a lot of ugly wrestlers not wearing masks anymore and Mascaras, you will be one of them!”  
 
Gene ends the show reminding fans tickets are on sale for the December 30th show at the Dunes Hotel and Oasis Casino.  
 
END OF SHOW ====================00000======================