IPadIOS18 does not install on new iPad 9th generation - system busy indicator just continues to spin for hours.

Purchased a new iPad 9th generation - Wifi only from Best Buy. Would like to copy data and apps from my iPad 7th generation. Both iPads were placed side by side and the old iPad successfully scanned the image on the new iPad to start the setup process. Signed onto the new iPad using the old iPad signon and the setup proceded to selecting the correct Wifi. The new iPad then throws up the Update Software to iPadIOS18 screen which you cannot bypass. The update gets loaded and verified and then gives a Install Now prompt that also can’t be bypassed. The install kicks off and then runs and runs. The old iPad shows a waiting on update message while the new iPad continues to crank away and do nothing. I ended up cancelling the update after 6 hours. My Wifi is fiber optic so speed is not the answer. Tried starting over again and ran into the same issue. So far all I have is a useless new iPad. Too bad I didn’t buy it last week before iPadIOS18 came out. Any suggestions?