The 'Bachelor' star paid tribute to finding the love of his life on Monday's 'Dancing With the Stars'
Monday's Dancing With the Stars saw contestants reflecting on the most memorable years of their lives, and and for Nick Viall that was the 2016 -- the year he found love with Vanessa Grimaldi on The Bachelor.
In a pre-taped package before his performance, Viall opened up about his tough journey to finding the woman of his dreams.
"Twice I went on the Bachelorette and took the huge risk of pursuing love, and it didn't work out," Viall shared. "I went through a lot of heartbreak."
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However, he persisted and ended up getting engaged to his fiancée at the end of the last season of The Bachelor. To honor his journey, Viall and partner Peta Murgatroyd decided that their rumba should take inspiration from the reality show where he gained fame.
This meant the dance began with several women aggressively vying for his attention through dance. While three members of the DWTS troupe came out -- decked in black -- it was Murgatroyd, clad in a stunning maroon gown, who won his heart during the routine.
As Viall eventually tore off his shirt to show off his ripped physique (after all, what would a Bachelor-inspired dance be without a hot shirtless guy?), the dance built up to the final kiss. However, the kiss wasn't between Viall and his pro partner.
As they built to the romantic conclusion of their routine, Viall seductively laid Murgatroyd on the ground and --- walked away. He glided over to his fiancée in the audience, lifted her in the air, and the pair shared a passionate kiss.
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The emotional, romantic performance won over not only the audience, but the hearts of the judges as well.
"This was your best dance, in my opinion," Julianne Hough shared, while Bruno Tonioli said he "felt something new stirring inside" Viall during his performance. The pair were rewarded with a score of 30 out of 40, which is Viall's highest score of the season thus far.
After the show, Viall and Murgatroyd spoke with ET's Cameron Mathison about bringing the reality star's "secret weapons" -- Grimaldi and his shirtless abs -- into this week's dance.
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"I think she did fantastic," Viall gushed of his bride-to-be. "Actually, we rehearsed it a couple of times and we were trying to time the dip and it was easily our best dip."
As for which of the pair will bring the best moves to their wedding reception, Viall said it "depends on the dance."
"I think in freestyle I might have her," he admitted, "but if its ballroom she would smoke me."
