Bronson Reed is the first to qualify for the TakeOver: XXX ladder match

NXT kicked off tonight’s show with the announcement that Keith Lee is relinquishing his North American title, and there would be a series of triple threat matches to set up a ladder match to crown a new NA champ.

That ladder match is going to take place on Aug. 22, the date that was already reserved for TakeOver: Boston. Of course, with TakeOver taking place in Florida like they do every week, they’d need to change their name.

They went with the simple but effective TakeOver: XXX given this is the 30th TakeOver. Though I can’t see that XXX without think of that Vin Diesel movie from almost 20 years ago. Maybe he’ll make a cameo?

The first qualifying match up was Bronson Reed facing off against a pair of former North American champions in Johnny Gargano and Roderick Strong.

In a match that a was a great mix with the two smaller heels trying to cut down the larger big boi babyface in Bronson, the three men put on quite the show.

An assisted powerbomb onto the floor looked to take Reed out of the equation, allowing the two veterans to unload on each other for awhile.

But Bronson reemerged at the end to hit a massive frog splash on Roddy Strong, who had just taken a One Final Beat DDT from Gargano.

This goes along with what Keith Lee wanted when he gave up the midcard belt. He wanted a prize for the up and comers to be able to fight over. Bronson Reed fits that description.

Who else do you want to see in XXX’s ladder match?

It’ll be one of these three next week. This will be quite the match.

You can find the results from tonight’s episode at the live blog here.