LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

There was shock in the ballroom Wednesday night as two former “Dancing with the Stars” mirrorball champs (Helio Castroneves and Drew Lachey) were sent packing, and no one was more surprised by the early elimination than the booted stars themselves.

“It’s crazy and I think it just proves that this season is very unpredictable and full of surprises,” Helio’s professional partner, Chelsie Hightower, told Access Hollywood of their surprising elimination at “Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars” in Los Angeles on Wednesday. “I’m very happy with this [Helio], you know, he gave a hundred and ten percent. I don’t think there’s really any regrets looking back knowing that he gave — every single rehearsal he came to he was focused, he was in it and he was in it to win it.

“It was a little bit short lived but it was a blast,” she continued. “We both had a blast.”

Drew Lachey and partner Anna Trebunskaya were also forced to make an early exit from the show, and the 98 Degrees singer said he believes being the first performance of the evening may have spelled doom for the pair.

“We went out first,” Drew told Access of why he believes he and Anna received low scores.

“We had an amazing dance but the judges score, as much as they liked it and had good comments, they gave us kind of a low score in comparison to everybody else,” Anna added. “I think that really messed with us, actually. Well, obviously it messed with us because we are the ones going home today.”

Though Drew is disappointed over hanging up his dancing shoes, his family will help ease the sting.

“I’m gonna go home, I’m gonna kiss my babies, I’m gonna hug my wife, I’m gonna wake up tomorrow, I’m gonna be thankful that I have a great family and, and a great life,” he said. “Life goes on.”

“Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars” returns on Monday at 8/7c on ABC.

-- Erin O’Sullivan

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