The coming week on Days of Our Lives promises to be nothing short of seismic. From January 26 onward, Salem becomes a battlefield where past sins collide

with present danger, and long-buried truths finally claw their way into the light. Power shifts, alliances fracture, and legacies that once seemed untouchable begin to crumble.

This is not merely another dramatic week in Salem—it is a turning point that will redefine who holds control and who is left exposed.

As storms gather over the town, every storyline feels charged with consequence. Secrets no longer whisper from the shadows; they roar into the open, demanding answers and exacting a price.

The Return of EJ DiMera: A Vendetta Forged in Fire

The week begins with a thunderous return. EJ DiMera storms back into Salem from Italy, and he does not come home with calm intentions or diplomatic restraint. His arrival is marked by fury, vengeance, and a singular goal: Gwen Rizczech’s total destruction.

While EJ was overseas strengthening DiMera Enterprises’ global reach, Gwen was playing a dangerous game on home turf. By secretly betraying EJ and enabling the unpredictable Dmitri to roam freely through Salem, she crossed a line that cannot be uncrossed. For EJ, this wasn’t a lapse in judgment—it was an unforgivable act of betrayal against the DiMera crown itself.

Gwen’s desperation only heightens the danger. Financially ruined and increasingly isolated, she believed manipulating Dmitri could secure her survival. Instead, she has drawn the wrath of a man whose reputation for ruthlessness eclipses even Salem’s darkest legends. EJ’s rage is not loud or impulsive; it is calculated, cold, and terrifying. Gwen may have nothing left to lose—but EJ has everything to protect, and that makes him lethal.

Gwen and Dr. Rolf: A Deal with the Devil

With her options dwindling, Gwen turns to the one man in Salem who thrives where morality ends: Dr. Wilhelm Rolf. Their clandestine meeting takes place in the sterile confines of his lab, a place steeped in chemical stench and unethical ambition. What unfolds is chilling.

Gwen confronts Rolf about his latest experiment, accusing him of resurrecting what she ominously refers to as “the bad kids.” The phrase sends shockwaves through Salem’s narrative. Given Rolf’s long history with DiMera resurrection schemes, the implications are terrifying. Is he reviving figures from Salem’s most dangerous past—or creating something entirely new?

Whatever the truth, Gwen’s involvement suggests desperation has driven her to gamble with forces she cannot control. She may believe Rolf is her escape route, but history has proven that dealing with him never ends without devastating consequences.

The Crypt’s Secret Revealed: Stefano DiMera Is Truly Gone

One of the most haunting mysteries in recent weeks finally receives an answer. A skeleton discovered deep within the DiMera crypt undergoes exhaustive forensic testing, and the results land like an emotional earthquake.

Rafe Hernandez delivers the truth to EJ DiMera: the remains belong to Stefano DiMera.

For Salem, Stefano was a monster. For EJ, he was an immortal force—a father who seemed destined to rise again no matter how many times he fell. The confirmation that Stefano is truly dead marks the definitive end of an era. The Phoenix has finally turned to ash.

Yet the revelation raises unsettling questions. How did Stefano end up discarded in his own crypt? Who ensured he stayed dead this time? And without his looming presence, who will rise to fill the power vacuum he leaves behind?

This is not just closure—it is a seismic shift that changes the balance of power in Salem forever.

Steve Johnson’s Gamble: A Trap That Turns Deadly

While the DiMeras grapple with ghosts of the past, Steve Johnson faces a very real and immediate threat. His daughter Stephanie is being stalked, and Steve’s protective instincts drive him to take a calculated but dangerous risk.

Determined to flush out the predator, Steve devises a plan to lure Stephanie out of hiding, using himself and his resources as bait. On paper, it’s a masterstroke—strategic, clever, and rooted in years of investigative experience.

But the plan is already compromised.

Unbeknownst to Steve, a gift he received—reportedly from EJ—contains a sophisticated listening device. Every whispered strategy, every emotional confession, and every tactical decision is being monitored. The stalker isn’t just watching from the shadows; he’s actively manipulating the game.

In a chilling twist, the hunter becomes the hunted. Steve believes he’s setting a trap, unaware that he and his loved ones are being guided straight into danger.

A Father’s Betrayal: Liam’s True Role Exposed

The week’s emotional climax arrives in a quiet but devastating confrontation. Rafe Hernandez meets with Abe Carver, bringing evidence that shatters trust and rewrites loyalties.

Rafe reveals proof that Liam—a man Abe welcomed into his inner circle—was instrumental in the kidnapping of Abe’s son. The betrayal cuts deep. This wasn’t a distant enemy or a faceless criminal; it was someone Abe trusted, someone he allowed close to his family.

As Abe stares at the evidence, regret and fury collide. The realization that his family was endangered by someone he believed in is almost unbearable. Liam’s actions suggest a level of calculation and cruelty that places him among Salem’s most dangerous villains.

This revelation doesn’t just expose a crime—it dismantles a relationship and forces Abe to confront how badly his trust was misplaced.

A Week That Changes Everything

The week of January 26, 2025, is one where the past refuses to stay buried and the future becomes frighteningly uncertain. Long-standing myths die. Dangerous alliances form. And the people Salem trusted most reveal themselves as the greatest threats.

From EJ DiMera’s ruthless return and the confirmation of Stefano’s death, to Gwen’s desperate dealings, Steve’s compromised plan, and Abe’s heartbreaking betrayal, every storyline converges toward one truth: Salem is on the brink of transformation.