WWE NXT Worlds Collide opened with a buzzworthy NXT North American Championship match.
Carmelo Hayes defended the gold against SmackDown superstar Ricochet, who appeared on the go-home episode of NXT 2.0 and challenged the champion to a match at the premium live event. He stated that he wanted to give the fans a memorable Carmelo Hayes match and regain the title he held during his previous run in NXT.
From the start, both men threw everything they had each other. After several hard-fought minutes, the playing field levelled when the two competitors went for springboard crossbodys and collided in mid-air. Ricochet capitalized with a flurry of offense. He dropped Hayes with the Recoil, but Trick Williams put the champion’s foot on the rope to break up the pin. Hayes gained the upper hand, but Ricochet rallied with an athletic superplex. They kept trading shots, and Hayes scored a two count with a Codebreaker. In the end, after more interference from Williams, Hayes dodged Ricochet’s Shooting Star Press and scored the win with an inside cradle.
.@Carmelo_WWE retains after an incredible battle with @KingRicochet!#NXTWorldsCollide pic.twitter.com/BvUs7Xv0LM
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) September 4, 2022
