Bachelor Nation fans never expected to see Clayton and Rachel back together, but here they are on The Perfect Match Season 3. But for non-Bachelor Nation fans who didn’t want their journey on The Bachelor Season 26, you may be wondering what happened to Clayton and Rachel and went down that caused all this drama years later.
Clayton Echard and Rachel Recchia met on The Bachelor Season 26 in 2022, where she was eliminated in the final three. Rachel went on to become one of the Season 19 Bachelorettes, along with her co-runner-up, Gabby Windey. She ended the season with her winner, Tino Franco, however, they broke up before the finale. She also appeared on Bachelor in Paradise Season 9, where she self-eliminated in Week 4 after struggling to find a connection with anyone.
Fast forward to 2025, and Clayton and Rachel were both announced as part of the cast of The Perfect Match Season 3 on Netflix. Clayton was an original cast member on Season 3, while Rachel joined at the end of Episode 1. The following episode saw Clayton and Rachel get back together despite everything they’ve been through in Bachelor Nation. But what happened with Clayton and Rachel on The Bachelor? Read on for a refresh on what went down.
What happened to Clayton and Rachel on The Bachelor?
During the final three on The Bachelor Season 26, Clayton revealed during his Fantasy Suite Date with his frontrunner, Susie Evans, that he had sex with Rachel and Gabby, who had their dates before Susie. The confession led Susie to quit The Bachelor. During the Rose Ceremony, Clayton not only revealed to Rachel and Gabby that Susie had left The Bachelor but that he had sex with both of them and told each of them that he loved them. After Gabby threatened to also leave The Bachelor, Clayton convinced her and Rachel to stay on the show.
After the Rose Ceremony, Clayton realized he still had feelings for Susie and broke up with both Gabby and Rachel before apologizing to Susie and asking her for another chance. Susie declined, however, she and Clayton revealed during the “After the Final Rose” special that they were back together. They split less than a year later.
Fast forward to The Perfect Match Season 3, and Clayton and Rachel were announced as part of the cast. After Rachel joined the show at the end of Episode 1, Clayton asked to get back together with her, which she reluctantly agreed to. Less than 24 hours later, however, Clayton decided that she and Rachel were better as friends and broke up with her.
“I don’t know if I ever really felt comfortable,” Rachel told People about why she gave Clayton a second chance. “I was doubting myself the whole time, but I think I never really got a full answer leaving The Bachelor. And there’s always been this ‘what if?'”
She continued, Even for the audience, everyone still wonders ‘what if’?’ And I think I knew that no matter what, I was going to get my answer. And I did.”
Clayton also confirmed that she didn’t tell Gabby about her and Clayton’s rekindling. “She knows now,” Rachel said. “But I knew I would get probably a beating. So I haven’t told her yet, but it’ll be fine. Gabby, sorry!”
Clayton, for his part, told People that he had the “best intentions” as The Bachelor even though things didn’t work out. “If I have a toxic trait, it’s being accidentally chaotic.,” he said. “So I feel like I go on reality television with good intentions.”
He continued, “I mean well, [but] the outcome just doesn’t end up working in the way I want it to work. But I have the best intentions.”
He also claimed that he had grown since his season of The Bachelor. “I can only receive the love that I was able to give, and so I think I had a lack of emotional maturity when I was on The Bachelor,” he said. “I’ve since developed a greater sense which now allows me to attract that energy, so I think I’m closer to being able to attract what I really desire.”
