'The Bachelor' recap: Clayton's journey begins with a shocking franchise 1st

By George Costantino

"The Bachelor" kicked off its 26th season on Monday with Clayton Echard, a 28-year-old medical sales rep from Missouri meeting the 31 women vying to be his future wife.

However, in a shocking franchise first, Salley, a 26-year-old Charlottesville, Virginia native, went home before the first limo arrived.

Salley, we learned, was previously engaged and set to marry on the same weekend as "The Bachelor" began taping. She revealed that going into the show she was excited about meeting Clayton and entering a new chapter of her life with him, but upon arriving at the mansion she realized she wasn't ready to move on just yet.

Salley then showed up at Clayton's hotel room to personally deliver the news that she was backing out of the competition, but was surprised when he asked to leave for a moment and returned with a rose in his hand, explaining, "There's definitely chemistry. It really makes me feel like there could be something special."

"I really, really want you here. So much so that I want to prove that," he continued, before offering her the rose.

Unfortunately, Salley turned down his offer after thinking it over, explaining, "My heart is just not ready."

"The first rose that I have given out as the Bachelor was rejected," Clayton said later in a confessional. "This is not the way that I was hoping to start my journey to find love."

Another shocking moment came after Claire's time alone with Clayton didn't go well. The Virginia Beach native expressed her disappointment with the other women, declaring, "He was 100% too nice for me."

Upon learning that Claire had no intention of saying that to Clayton's face, Serene, a 26-year-old Ohio elementary school teacher from Oklahoma City, Ohio, decided to tell him instead. After confronting Claire about her remarks, he sent her packing.

John Fleenor/ABC

Clayton Echard and Teddi in the season 26 premiere of "The Bachelor."

The first impression rose went to Teddi, a 24-year-old surgical unit nurse from Highland, California.

Also sent home on Monday were Daria, Hailey, Ivana, Jane, Lindsay D., Rianna and Samantha.

Here are the other women remaining after the rose ceremony:

Cassidy, 26, an executive recruiter from Los Angeles, California
Eliza, 25, a marketing manager from Berlin, Germany
Elizabeth, 32, a real estate advisor from Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Ency, 28, a sales manager from Burbank, California
Gabby, 30, an ICU nurse from Denver, Colorado
Genevive, 26, a bartender from Los Angeles, California
Hunter, 28, a human resources specialist from Charlotte, North Carolina
Jill, 26, an architectural historian from Scituate, Rhode Island
Kate, 32, a real estate agent from Lake Hollywood, California
Kira, 32, a physician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Lyndsey W., 28 an industrial sale representative from Houston, Texas
Mara, 32, an entrepreneur from Collingswood, New Jersey
Marlena, 30, a former Olympian from Gainesville, Florida
Melina, 27, a personal trainer from West Hollywood, California
Rachel, 25, a flight instructor from Clermont, Florida
Sarah, 23, a wealth management advisor from New York City, New York
Serene, 26, an elementary school teacher from Oklahoma City, Ohio
Shanae, 29, a recruiter from Sycamore, Ohio
Sierra, 26, a yoga instructor from Dallas, Texas
Susie, 28, a wedding videographer from Virginia Beach, Virginia
Teddi, 24, a surgical unit nurse from Highland, California
Tessa, 26, a human resources specialist from Brooklyn, New York

"The Bachelor" returns Monday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.