The Bachelorette star Rachel Recchia has revealed that the ending of Eliza Isichei's love triangle with Justin Glaze and Rodney Mathews really "shocked" her at the reunion filming for Bachelor in Paradise's eighth season.
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Rachel and Gabby, who co-starred on The Bachelorette's nineteenth season, attended the filming of Bachelor in Paradise's reunion special, which will air on ABC later this month.'
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When recalling how messy, dramatic -- and, in some cases, volatile -- the reunion turned out to be, Rachel admitted Eliza surprised her the most during Tuesday's episode of the "Bachelor Happy Hour" podcast co-hosted by Becca Kufrin and Michelle Young.
"Not that she went at it [with someone], but I was proud of her," Rachel shared of Eliza.
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"She was going through it down there [in Mexico]. I wanted to go down there and cradle her."
Rachel confirmed Eliza's shining moment stemmed from her "love triangle situation" with Justin and Rodney.
As shown on the latest episode of Bachelor in Paradise, Eliza felt pressured to give Rodney a rose since everyone at the Paradise resort respected and loved him.
Eliza therefore gave Rodney a rose and sent Justin packing at the fourth Rose Ceremony of the season. Justin departed the show with kindness, understanding and grace, but he broke down into tears after hugging Eliza goodbye.
Rodney thought Eliza was going to be his future wife, but the morning after the Rose Ceremony, Eliza couldn't stop crying.
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She realized her heart really belonged to Justin, and so she left Mexico and flew to Baltimore, MD, to ask him for a second chance.
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Rachel confirmed the Paradise reunion will bring closure to the Eliza, Rodney and Justin storyline.
"There is definitely an ending to it, I will say that," Rachel teased. "But what I heard was shocking. The details that kind of came out post-filming were shocking."
Rachel said she already "knew Eliza's side" of the drama, adding, "Obviously I support her, and women, always."
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"But just some of the details that were coming out and some of the things I heard," the flight instructor continued, "I was just sitting there -- me and Gabby were just jaws on the floor. I'll say that."
While Rachel is preparing fans for a messy and emotional finale, she said "of course" love stories came out of Season 8 as well, and maybe even an engagement or two.
Most Paradise fans, for example, are predicting that Brandon Jones and Serene Russell will go all the way.
"There are so many love stories still there and some maybe rekindling happening as well," Rachel shared of Bachelor in Paradise's ending.
"But overall, this season has been crazy. I really do feel like last season was the gold standard of Paradise [with] the amount of relationships that are successful and still successful from it."
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Rachel suggested, however, that this season had a different feel to it.
"This time, I think maybe the switch week [aka "The Split" twist] might have played a part in that, them not having as much as time together, but there is of course still gonna be love at the end of the day," Rachel said.
Rachel is currently single -- but dating again -- after she broke off her engagement to The Bachelorette 19 winner Tino Franco.
At this point in the Bachelor in Paradise season, the strong couples are Brandon and Serene, Genevieve Parisi and Aaron Clancy, Victoria Fuller and Johnny DePhillipo, and Michael Allio and Danielle Maltby.
Couples who were established during "The Split" twist were Andrew Spencer and Jessenia Cruz, Tyler Norris and Brittany Galvin, and Logan Palmer and Kate Gallivan.
Shanae Ankney has also sparked a strong connection with one of the twins, Joey Young.
Bachelor in Paradise continues next Monday, November 14 and Tuesday, November 15 at 8PM ET/PT on ABC.
Click here to read Bachelor in Paradise spoilers revealing what's going to unfold between Rodney and Eliza on the reunion this season.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)
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