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‘Bachelor’ Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell’s Break-up Revealed on ‘After the Final Rose’

Photo: ABC

The one-two punch of the three hour ‘Bachelor’ season finale addressed what happened between the contestant who received the final rose, Rachael Kirkconnell, and Matt James, who was the first Black bachelor in franchise history.

In the two-hour season finale, many viewers on social media were outraged that Matt let Michelle Young go, and sent her home, saying he could not get there with her, ahead of the day of the proposal leaving Rachael Kirkconnell as the last woman standing.

Photo: ABC

However through the finale, Matt was haunted by the words of his mother, who told him to be cautious due to her history with Matt’s father.  This affected Matt so deeply, that in the end when it was time for Rachael to meet him for the proposal ceremony, he ultimately did not propose, but instead he gave her the final rose, and wanted to continue their relationship.  Seemed like a happy ending? Not so fast.

 

As everyone who follows the show now knows, during the latter part of the season, photos of Rachael emerged of her attending an Antebellum-themed party in 2018, as well as her “liking” posts with racially insensitive slants.  Later, Chris Harrison defended Rachael during an interview on Extra with Ex-Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay.  He then stepped down from his hosting duties for the After the Final Rose wrap-up episode.  Enter Emmanuel Acho who hosted the final hour.

It was on After the Final Rose that viewers learned publicly for the first time that Matt had broken-up with Kirkconnell once the photos came to light and that he did it over a phone call with her.

When speaking with Acho about the photos, James explained that at first, “I dismissed them as rumors, because that’s what they were to me.  You hear things that are heartbreaking … and you just pray they’re not true.  And then, when you find out that they are … it just makes you question everything.”

Later, in the episode when Rachael and Matt saw each other for the first time since the break-up, Matt said to his now ex, “When I questioned our relationship, it was in the context of you not fully understanding my blackness and what it means to be a Black man in America.  It broke my heart, because this is the last conversation I thought we’d be having. I didn’t sign up to have this conversation.”

When Acho pressed Rachael about her photos from the Antebellum-themed party, and what she sees now looking at them, she said, “I see someone who was living in this ignorance without even, like, thinking about who it would be hurting.”

Acho asked Matt if there was a chance at reconciliation which he shut down, saying Kirkconnell had work to do and she needs to do it alone.  As Rachael cried, James added, “I don’t want to be emotionally responsible for those tears, ’cause it’s like, the work and the reconciliation that needs to be done is work that I can’t do for you.”

So, what did you think about Matt choosing Rachael over Michelle? Then, what did you think of the break-up of Rachael and Matt? Happy to hear it is over, or do you have a different opinion on the matter? Whatever the case, this season of The Bachelor, where it should have been inclusive, would up in the end being divisive. Comment below.

Recaps

THE BACHELOR Season Finale: Zach Gets Engaged & In True Origin Franchise Fashion Leaves Another Heartbroken

On last night’s season finale of The Bachelor, it looks like the reality-dating series went back to its roots. The producers found a lead who would revert the show back to its original form.

Zach Shallcross broke a woman’s heart by making her the runner-up in love, and made her show up dressed to the nines to a potential engagement ceremony only to let her down at the most vulnerable moment.

Photo: ABC

It appears on the surface that the show needed to ensure they had a ‘Bachelor’ that wouldn’t do the right thing, by sending a woman home before the final ceremony, if he knew he didn’t want to be with her in the end.  In Shallcross, they found their man, but it came at a price, because many in ‘Bachelor Nation’ found Zach to be one of the most unlikeable bachelors in the history of the franchise.

In fact, Zach was the very first ‘Bachelor’ since 2017 to choose between two women in the finale and to leave the After the Final Rose post-show with the woman he is ‘engaged’ too.

The woman who deserves props here is Gabi.  She knew in her gut (leading into the engagement ceremony) that she was not the one Zach would ultimately choose, yet she begrudgingly, showed up anyway – this is a TV show she had a contract to be on, after all.   For Gabi, was the one who had sex with Zach during ‘Fantasy Week” initially, and then Zach had to tell Kaity, not Ariel tho, that they had sex together breaking his ‘code’ that he set for ‘sex week’ – in that, he was going to swear off sex with all three women. Apparently, he wound up having sex with two – Gabi and Kaity.

When it came down to Zach’s speech to Gabi, you could hear ‘Bachelor Nation’s’ heart drop when he lowered the boom on Gabi.  Best part, when Gabi stepped into mud getting out of the limo to meet Zach only to be rejected by him and tells the producers, “When Kaity arrives, don’t do that to her.” It’s as if Gabi knew what was ahead of her in a very self-aware moment.

Later, while Zach began is meandering during his rejection speech of her, Gabi announces, “Can you stop? I knew it was coming. What I don’t know is why you didn’t tell me when you knew.” Us either!

Photo: ABC

During the After the Final Rose episode, an intense and emotional Gabi was struggling after watching herself being dumped. When seeing Zack for the first time since the season ended, Gabi tells him, “I wish you would have just sent me home and saved me all the pain that just went on and on. I thought it was love. I thought it was more than a TV show. I get it, sex sells, but now I’ve become a narrative; it’s really painful.” Heartbreaking.

Photo: ABC

However, let’s not forget to talk about Kaity, who was the odds-on favorite for weeks to win Zach’s heart, and she did.  In the end, Zach professed his love for her over and over at their engagement ceremony, handed her the final rose which she accepted, and the duo walked away unscathed, for now.

Later, Kaity appeared with Zach for the first time in public during the After the Final Rose episode and Zach revealed his plans to move to Austin, so they could live together.  Will they last? Stay tuned.

So, what did you think about the season finale of The Bachelor? Were you rooting for Gabi or Kaity to receive the final rose from Zach? Comment below.

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Recaps

WWE Friday Night Smackdown: Rey Mysterio Pushed to the Limits ‘Clocks’ His Son Dominik & Their Wrestlemania Match is Set

When the WWE tells storylines involving family of a wrestler, it succeeds the most in true soap opera form, and in front of a live crowd.  This one set up a major Wrestlemania match months in the making.

Last night on Friday Night Smackdown, soon-to-be WWE Hall of Famer, Rey Mysterio, was in a match against LA Knight. Coming to ringside was none other than Rey’s turned-heel son, and member of the Judgement Day, Dominik Mysterio.

When Dominik got the opportunity, he tripped up his dad from outside the ring ropes and LA Knight secured the victory.  Already having enough of Dominik’s antics, Rey heads up towards the entrance ramp, but once again Dominik goes on to bait his dad, about what a loser father he is, and how all the years he was growing up, Rey was MIA and wrestling around the world.

For weeks, the younger Mysterio has been daring his father to punch him, but Rey swore he would never touch his son, no matter how bad things got.  However, that all changed last night when Dominik involved Rey’s wife and his daughter who were at ringside.

Courtesy/FOX

Dominik got in his mother’s face for staying married to a loser like Rey, and after trashing his mother, that was the final straw for Rey.  He headed back to the ring area and punched his son!  After the crowd went nuts with approval, Rey turned to Dominik and told him he will see him at Wrestlemania and the match between father vs. son has been made.

Following the events, Rey took to his Instagram and shared:  “Every man has his limits…Don’t forget, she’s not only your mother, but my wife.”

Watch went down below as Dominik provoked Rey which leads to next week’s Wrestlemania 39 match in Los Angeles.

What do you think of the storyline of Rey vs. Dominik, father vs. son? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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Recaps

WWE Friday Night Smackdown: Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn Hug It Out and Reunite

When you can get the kind of ‘pop’ that Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn received in front of a live crowd on Friday night’s edition of WWE Smackdown, you know you have struck gold.

Truthfully, this storyline has got so much emotional heart at its epicenter that you find yourself rooting for the two friends to finally put aside their differences.

With Cody Rhodes attempting to mend fences between the estranged besties, it ultimately failed, or did it?  After KO walked out of the arena, he was about to get in his car and drive off when a distraught Sami ran after him. Sami pleaded with Kevin, sharing, that they are ‘brothers’ and that he loves him, and that this is not all just about wanting to repair their friendship just to go after the Usos. KO heard him out, but was silent and eventually drove off.

From there, it looked like it was going to be very bad night for Zayn. Not only was his friendship with Owens in question, but he had to head to the ring for a confrontation with enemy-turned-friend (or so he thought), Jey Uso.

In another great in-ring performance, Jey takes to the mic and unloads on Zayn.  Jey says he was betrayed by Sami, and had no choice but to eventually go back and side with The Bloodline. Just then, Sami took the mic and told Jey he did have a choice, but instead he chose to put up with Roman Reigns’ abuse for weeks.  Sami admits he loved being part of the Uso family and The Bloodline, but he wasn’t willing to stand for Reigns’ manipulations any longer.  He even goes on to say that Jey secretly wishes that he had delivered the chair shot to Reigns at the Royal Rumble.

All of that said was not enough to steer Jey back to Sami’s side, and from there all communication broke down.  Zayn was manhandled by both Jey and his brother, Jimmy Uso.  However, Kevin Owens returned when his music hit … but not down the ramp, he was already in the ring behind the Usos.

Shocked, Owens delivered a stunner and powerbomb to the brothers Uso. After the ring was cleared of Usos, the crowd started chanting in unison “hug it out” as Cody Rhodes watched on a monitor from the back with a smile on his face and a bit overcome.

Finally, Kevin went in to hug Sami, the crowd went nuts, the friends are back together, and we wouldn’t be surprised one bit if this week the WWE will announce that it will be Owens and Zayn vs. The Usos for the Tag Team titles at Wrestlemania 39 in just a few short weeks.

Take a look at the dramatic moments leading up to the reunion of Kevin and Sami below.

Now let us know, where you happy to see Kevin come to Sami’s aid and hug it out with his best friend? Comment below.

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