Why DWTS' Rylee Arnold Says Partner Connor Wood Was Not "Prepared"

Why DWTS' Rylee Arnold Says Partner Connor Wood Was Not Fully "Prepared" for Premiere

Rylee Arnold's motto? Dance big or go home.

And that's exactly what the Dancing With the Stars pro helped partner Connor Wood do during his season 35 debut Sept. 15, despite confessing that she believed the podcaster was not fully ready for the experience.

"I don't think he was prepared for the performance aspect of this. It's like nothing else," Rylee exclusively told E! News' Will Marfuggi during their joint interview after the premiere. "And as a dancer, even myself stepping into this, it's so foreign and just stressful because it's a live show."

Indeed, the competitive dancer was still taking in the exciting evening in the ballroom—and all the pressure that comes with each step closer to landing the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.

As the 21-year-old put it, "There's so much at stake, and you do so much rehearsal to get ready, and it's that one moment that you have to nail it. But he did such a good job."

As for Connor's take on how his first routine went?

"I don't know how to describe it. It's a weird feeling," he admitted with a laugh. "I might throw up, but I'm also really hungry. I've never felt that."

The 31-year-old added, "We don't practice here," referring to the ballroom, which was why "going out there, it was kind of blind."

And Rylee can relate to the TikToker being a newbie to the DWTS family. After all, she became a pro three years ago, coaching stars like reality TV star Harry Jowsey and Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik since 2023.

And the Utah native—whose sister is former pro Lindsay Arnold—has worked hard to earn her spot returning to the ABC hit. Last year, she responded to fan criticism questioning her teaching technique.

Disney/Eric McCandless

"There’s been a lot of things this year [and] people saying that I’m not coming back next season, that I’m not gonna be asked back," Rylee told Julianne Hough during a 2025 episode of The Morning After (Show), "or people saying I don’t know how to teach."

"I would absolutely love to do another season—if not a bunch of more seasons—in my life, if they want me there," she explained, adding that the outside scrutiny was "just noise."

Read on to check out Rylee and Connor's stiff competition for this year's ballroom dance-off.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Julia Stiles & Ezra Sosa

You won't hate this news—the 10 Things I Hate About You star will be saving the last dance for her pro partner.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Giada De Laurentiis & Alan Bersten

Cha-cha-chopping away... The celebrity chef will be turning up the heat this season.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Harry Shum Jr. & Jenna Johnson

What did you miss on Glee? The actor taking his musical talents to the dance floor.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Taylor Hanson & Britt Stewart

The former '90s teen heartthrob will hope to MMMBop his way to the top of the leaderboard on season 35.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Tatyana Ali & Jan Ravnik

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actress will be bringing her fresh moves to the dance floor.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Jenna Dewan & Val Chmerkovskiy

Twenty years after starring in Step Up, the dancer is stepping up to the challenge.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Amber Glenn & Pasha Pashkov

The 2026 Olympic figure skater will take her skills from the ice to the ballroom.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Ezra Frech & Daniella Karagach

The Team USA Paralympic track and field athlete will show off his athleticism on DWTS.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Sarah Jane Nader & Hailey Bills

After sister Brooks Nader competed on season 33, the Love Thy Nader star is trying her hand.

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Connor Wood & Rylee Arnold

The comedian, also known as Fibula on social media, is ready to earn more applause on DWTS.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Conner Leavitt & Adele Zaikman

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star is following in the footsteps of wife Whitney Leavitt—who competed on season 34.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Tyler Cameron & Sharna Burgess

The Bachelor Nation star is trading in roses for rumbas.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Jackson Olson & Emma Slater

The Savannah Bananas baseball player is stepping up to the plate, bringing his dance moves from the diamond to the ballroom.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson

The Jimmy Kimmel Live! star is ready to learn some new moves.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Ciara Miller & Brandon Armstrong

The Summer House star is prepping for her turn in the ballrom.

"Looks are not indicative of being in shape," Ciara exclusively told E! News in June. "I do huff and puff going up the stairs, so I gotta get back into the gym and work on my stamina."

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Maura Higgins & Mark Ballas

The Love Island UK alum is hoping her love for DWTS doesn't betray her as she manifested this experience.

"I have a vision board and I redo it every year," she told E! News in May. "This year is the first year that I stayed at home by myself on New Year's Eve. I did not go out at all. I made myself a bowl of pasta and a glass of red wine and I redid my vision board for the year. Dancing With the Stars was already on it from the year before. However, I added five more Dancing With the Stars on the board."

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