The 2022 Worlds Collide was the third Worlds Collideprofessional wrestlinglivestreaming event produced by WWE. While the event was held primarily for wrestlers from the promotion's NXT and NXT UKbrand divisions, Worlds Collide also featured some wrestlers from WWE's main roster brands, Raw and SmackDown. It took place on Sunday, September 4, 2022, at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, and was the first Worlds Collide to livestream on Peacock. This was the first Worlds Collide event since 2020 and also the final event for NXT UK, which was meant to relaunch as NXT Europe in 2023. This was also NXT's last major event in which the brand was referred to as "NXT 2.0", as nine days later, the "2.0" moniker was dropped.
Worlds Collide is a series of professional wrestling shows that began on January 26, 2019, when WWE held an interbrand tournament featuring wrestlers from the NXT, NXT UK, and the now-defunct 205 Livebrands.[1][2][3] After not being held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, WWE announced on August 18, 2022, that Worlds Collide would return on September 4, 2022, and be held at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. It was the third Worlds Collide event and primarily featured wrestlers from the NXT and NXT UK brands. The announcement also confirmed that this would be the final event for NXT UK; following the event, the brand went on hiatus and will relaunch as NXT Europe in 2023. In addition to the WWE Network in international markets, it was the first Worlds Collide to livestream on Peacock after the American version of the WWE Network merged under Peacock in March 2021.[4][5]
The card included matches that resulted from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches. Results was predetermined by WWE's writers on the NXT and NXT UK brands, while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television programs, NXT and NXT UK, and the supplementary online streaming show, Level Up.[6][7]
On the August 23 episode of NXT, NXT Women's ChampionMandy Rose confronted Blair Davenport and demanded respect from her. NXT UK Women's ChampionMeiko Satomura joined the confrontation, and the two champions argued who was better. The champions then agreed to a title unification match at Worlds Collide, with Davenport also being added to the match due to being the number one contender for the NXT UK Women's Championship, thus making it a triple threat title unification match.[9]
At Heatwave, while Diamond Mine (Roderick Strong, Damon Kemp, and NXT Tag Team ChampionsBrutus Creed and Julius Creed) were talking about The Creed Brothers' success, they were interrupted by Gallus (Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey, and Wolfgang), who laid them out. Later that night, Gallus interrupted NXT UK Tag Team ChampionsJosh Briggs and Brooks Jensen, and a brawl broke out, leading to a title match the following week,[8] where Gallus won via countout after Lash Legend attacked Fallon Henley, leading to Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince) brawling with Briggs and Jensen outside the ring, but Briggs and Jensen retained.[9] On the August 30 episode, during a six-person mixed tag team match pitting Henley, Jensen, and Briggs against Pretty Deadly and Legend, Gallus interfered in favor of Legend and Pretty Deadly and helped them to win. On the same episode, after Joe, Mark, and Wolfgang defeated Damon Kemp and The Creed Brothers, a brawl started between both teams, and Pretty Deadly, Briggs, and Jensen joined the fight. This led to a fatal four-way tag team elimination match being scheduled between The Creed Brothers, Briggs and Jensen, Gallus, and Pretty Deadly at Worlds Collide, which would also be a title unification match.[10]
On the August 30 episode of NXT, NXT North American ChampionCarmelo Hayes, alongside Trick Williams, discussed how no one could match Hayes' level. Ricochet from SmackDown then appeared to challenge Hayes for the title at World Collide, which was made official.[10]
Aftermath
Tyler Bate opened the following episode of NXT to talk about his loss to Bron Breakker, only to be interrupted by Gallus (Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey, and Wolfgang). They attacked Bate and also took out security guards. Breakker made the save, and a tag team match pitting Breakker and Bate against Joe and Mark was scheduled for that episode's main event, where Breakker and Bate won. Afterwards, they were attacked by JD McDonagh, who wanted another shot at the NXT Championship[11] after losing to Breakker at Heatwave.[8] This set up a match between Bate and McDonagh to determine the number one contender for the title on the September 20 episode where McDonagh was victorious.[12]
On the September 13 episode of NXT, The Creed Brothers (Brutus Creed and Julius Creed) took on Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince) in a Steel Cage match for the NXT Tag Team Championship. Pretty Deadly retained after Damon Kemp handcuffed Julius to the top of the cage, leaving Brutus to fight Pretty Deadly alone.[13] The Creed Brothers would continue their feud with Kemp over the next few weeks and on the October 4 episode, an ambulance match between Julius and Kemp was scheduled for Halloween Havoc, with the added stipulation that Brutus must leave NXT should Julius lose.[14]
For costing them the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship, Toxic Attraction (Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne) faced Doudrop and Nikki A.S.H. on the following episode of NXT in a losing effort.[11]
For costing him the NXT North American Championship, Trick Williams took on Ricochet on the following episode of NXT in a losing effort.[11]
On the September 20 episode of NXT, a Pub Rules match pitting Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen against Gallus (Mark Coffey and Wolfgang) was scheduled for the following week,[12] where Briggs and Jensen won. Following the match, Mark, Joe Coffey, and Wolfgang attacked security guards and a referee before they were arrested as NXT ended.[15] Afterwards, it was announced that Gallus were suspended indefinitely.[16] Gallus made their return at NXT: New Year's Evil on January 10, 2023, where they won a gauntlet match to become the number one contenders for the NXT Tag Team Championship. They replaced Gallus in the match, setting up another match between the two teams for the following week,[17] where Gallus was victorious, ending the feud.[18]
The 2022 Worlds Collide would be NXT's last major event in which the brand was referred to as "NXT 2.0". At the end of the September 13 episode of NXT, a video package aired that summarized the past year of NXT's "2.0 era" and was narrated by Shawn Michaels. He talked about the brand consistently evolving with a focus on the future. Afterwards, a new gold-and-white logo was introduced, with the "NXT" logo remaining unchanged but the "2.0" moniker dropped.[13][19]
The NXT UK Heritage Cup was the only title between NXT and NXT UK that was not defended at the event. The title's status remained unknown until April 2023 when reigning champion Noam Dar appeared on the April 4, 2023, episode of NXT with the Heritage Cup.[20] It was subsequently transferred to NXT and renamed to NXT Heritage Cup.[21]
