SELENA, AJ, ADELE
DWTS: Who Won The Next Pro? Finale Recap
Welcome to the season finale of Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro. After eight weeks of competition, the casting decision comes down to three finalists: AJ, Selena, and Adele. Last week’s semi-finals featured guest judge and mentor Kym Johnson, and after two rounds of dancing, Allen Genkin was eliminated, leaving these three to battle for the title and a place as a pro on Dancing with the Stars.
For the finale, Derek Hough returned to the judges’ panel and Witney Carson co-hosted alongside Robert Irwin. Each finalist performed two routines—a ballroom dance and a freestyle—and each was paired with a returning celebrity from the main show. AJ danced with season 31 champion Charli D’Amelio, Selena teamed with season 26 champion Adam Rippon, and Adele partnered with season 29 finalist Nev Schulman. For the first time this season, a live studio audience was present as the finalists took the stage.
Opening group number
The show opened with a high-energy ensemble number choreographed by Witney, featuring former troupe members, Derek, Mark and Shirley Ballas, the hosts, and the three finalists. The returning celebrity partners—Adam, Nev, and Charli—joined their prospective pros for a lively and celebratory start to the finale.
Selena & Adam – Jive
Selena chose a jive for her first routine. In rehearsal she pushed Adam to be precise and asked him to tell her when something didn’t look right. Having one ballroom dance left, she wanted to give it her all.
Their jive was playful and stylized, with solid technique and classic jive elements. It didn’t reach the full fireworks you might expect from a finale ballroom routine, but the pair clearly enjoyed themselves and delivered a polished performance. Adam showed good energy, though he lacked some of the crispness he displayed in his original season. Selena remained the focal point—confident, controlled, and expressive throughout.
Judge Mark praised their side-by-side work, Shirley noted Selena’s clear progress and attention to feedback, and Derek called Selena a commanding presence and a star on the dance floor.
AJ & Charli – Viennese Waltz
AJ selected the Viennese waltz and emphasized the hold and frame he wanted to achieve with Charli. She admitted to feeling nervous at first but appreciated AJ’s steadying presence.
Charli’s long lines and elegant carriage were the highlight of this routine. The choreography favored classic Viennese elements—smooth rise and fall, seamless gliding across the floor, and controlled turns. While the choreography remained fairly straightforward, it showcased Charli’s natural grace and AJ’s growing command of ballroom posture.
Mark applauded Charli and called AJ a strong ballroom dancer, noting a slight stumble near the end. Derek saw the trust between them, and Shirley praised Charli while expressing that AJ could have pushed the movement even further to fully utilize his partner.
Adele & Nev – Samba
Adele chose samba for her ballroom dance. Nev, who hadn’t performed samba on the show during his original run, admitted he was a little rusty, but Adele took on a clear teaching role, prioritizing rest and focus ahead of the performance.
This samba emerged as a standout. Despite Nev’s limited samba background, the routine highlighted Adele’s teaching ability and on-floor charisma. Adele was consistently compelling—precise, sultry, and fully in command—while Nev held his own and complemented her performance. The partnership communicated chemistry and strong musicality.
Derek called the choice bold and praised the routine’s impact, Mark enjoyed the side-by-side passages and wanted Nev to take a few more risks, and Shirley lauded Adele as a magical teacher who demonstrated excellent musical timing and samba technique.
Chat with Robert
Robert visited the finalists to talk about what this journey has meant to each of them. Selena spoke about providing representation in the ballroom world. Adele shared how dance has been therapeutic since childhood, recalling how dancing brought her joy when she had a back brace for scoliosis. AJ reflected on his background—how his family couldn’t always afford dance lessons—and said he views this opportunity as a new chapter in his career.
Selena & Adam – Freestyle
For her freestyle, Selena wanted to break the rules and lean into her contemporary roots. She aimed to tell a story and give Adam space to shine as her partner.
The freestyle delivered intense, physical storytelling with dramatic lifts and impactful contact work. Selena allowed Adam moments to stand out while maintaining strong leadership and artistic clarity. Their connection and the narrative thread made this a compelling and finale-worthy performance.
Judges responded enthusiastically: Mark praised the danger and power of the piece, Shirley said it belonged on a DWTS finale and called Selena unique, and Derek predicted she would be a fan favorite if she were a pro on the show.
AJ & Charli – Freestyle
AJ described his freestyle as a celebration of everything he learned during the competition. He intentionally made the routine ambitious, packing it with varied elements to showcase his range.
Their freestyle felt like controlled chaos—in a good way. It was fast, fun, and energetic, with theatrical moments that brought a Broadway-like quality. A few synchronization hiccups showed at times, but overall it was an entertaining, satisfying capstone to AJ’s run on the series.
Shirley called it big, wild, and upbeat; Derek compared aspects of it to Broadway; and Mark praised how much they achieved in a short rehearsal window.
Adele & Nev – Freestyle
Adele chose a paso doble for her freestyle, a technically demanding and dramatic choice she hoped would demonstrate how much she’s grown. Nev committed to supporting her fully so she could succeed.
This performance closed the night with power and intensity. Adele’s paso doble was precise, dramatic, and confidently executed; Nev matched the mood well, even if he lagged slightly in a few synchronized moments. The overall effect was cinematic and authoritative—an ambitious, well-executed finale routine.
Derek praised the intensity and intent of the dance, Mark applauded Adele’s ambitious pair of routines across the night, and Shirley emphasized the hard work Adele put into both performances.
Which dancer will win?
After the performances, the decision felt like a two-way race between Selena and Adele based on the season as a whole. Both showed star quality and progress; Adele’s consistency and technical approach made a strong case for the win. Still, all three finalists delivered memorable moments and demonstrated growth throughout the competition.
RESULTS
When the results were announced, Shirley acknowledged how impressive all three contestants had been. In third place was Selena, who celebrated her unexpected run and vowed this is not the end of her journey.
Mark highlighted Adele’s striking performances, and Derek praised AJ as a great partner and teacher. Then Shirley revealed the winner: The next pro is… ADELE.
Adele reacted with genuine surprise and joy. AJ expressed his disappointment but acknowledged the significance of the moment. Nev embraced Adele as she celebrated a well-earned victory. Adele’s win feels like an earned recognition of her technical skill, teaching ability, and consistent growth throughout the season.
With that, the inaugural season of The Next Pro concluded. The season thirty-five cast for Dancing with the Stars will be revealed on Good Morning America this Wednesday, September 2nd, and the two-night premiere begins September 15th. Congratulations to Adele—she’s earned her place as the next DWTS professional. Thanks to the cast and fans for an entertaining eight weeks; stay tuned for the new season.