If the first full week of January is meant to ease viewers gently into the new year, Days of Our Lives clearly didn’t get the memo. The newly released preview promo

for January 5th through 9th promises not just drama, but full-scale chaos—romantic betrayals, corporate warfare, stalkers in the shadows, and dangerous

villains refusing to stay down. In true Salem fashion, hope and happiness are fleeting, while secrets and revenge are always waiting just around the corner.

From the moment the promo opens, it’s clear this is not an ordinary week. This is a turning point—one that could permanently alter relationships, power structures, and even lives.

Xander vs. Brady: When Business Becomes Personal

The most jaw-dropping moment of the promo comes fast and hard: Xander Cook fires Brady Black. On the surface, it’s a corporate decision tied to Titan Industries. In reality, it’s a deeply personal declaration of war.

Xander has never been known for emotional restraint, especially when it comes to Sarah Horton. After witnessing Brady and Sarah growing closer—and ringing in the New Year with a kiss that strongly suggests more to come—Xander snaps. Brady calls him out, accusing him of letting jealousy override business sense. He’s not wrong. But logic has never stopped Xander when his heart is on the line.

This firing is not about job performance or company loyalty. It’s about pain, pride, and control. Xander has lost Sarah before, and each time it has driven him to reckless extremes. From kidnappings to cover-ups, his history proves that heartbreak pushes him into dangerous territory. Removing Brady from Titan is Xander’s way of reclaiming power in a situation where he feels utterly powerless.

The fallout will be massive. Titan Industries now becomes the battleground for a romantic rivalry that threatens to spiral into sabotage and vengeance. Salem has seen business feuds before—but when love fuels the fire, the damage is always worse.

Leo, Javi, and Dmitri: Love, Obsession, and Ruin

Elsewhere, romance collapses in spectacular fashion as Leo Stark and Javi Hernandez’s already-questionable marriage implodes. Enter Dmitri von Leuschner, who crashes the ceremony with surgical cruelty. For Leo, this isn’t just humiliation—it’s heartbreak layered with betrayal.

Leo may be a schemer, but even con artists want to be loved. What he shared with Javi, however unconventional, represented stability and a future. Dmitri’s intervention isn’t about legality or morality—it’s about obsession. He cannot stand to see Leo happy with someone else, even after pushing him away.

The aftermath is bleak. Javi is left shattered, Leo alone and spiraling, while Dmitri watches from the shadows. This twisted triangle is far from over. In fact, all signs point to escalation. Dmitri doesn’t want to destroy Leo—he wants to reclaim him. And in Salem, obsession rarely ends without collateral damage.

A Quiet Horton New Year… or the Calm Before the Storm?

At the Horton House, Julie Williams rings in the New Year with cautious optimism alongside Jeremy Horton. The moment is warm, nostalgic, and deceptively peaceful. Julie hopes for happiness—a wish that feels dangerously naive in a town where joy is often a setup for tragedy.

Jeremy remains an enigma. Since his return, his quiet intensity suggests there’s more beneath the surface. Is he simply reconnecting with family, or is he carrying secrets that could soon unravel? History tells us that no one comes back to Salem without baggage. This serene New Year’s moment may be the last calm before Jeremy’s story takes a darker turn.

Stephanie and Alex: Romance Under Surveillance

Stephanie Johnson and Alex Kiriakis appear to be living a fairy tale, celebrating their engagement with a kiss in the town square. It’s sweet, romantic—and immediately unsettling. Because someone is watching.

A mysterious figure in a black hoodie films the couple from the shadows, confirming Salem’s latest stalker storyline. This isn’t random. It feels targeted, deliberate, and deeply personal.

Alex’s past alone provides a long list of potential enemies, while Stephanie’s time away from Salem may have left unresolved grudges. The footage could be used for blackmail, intimidation, or something far more sinister. Whatever the motive, this threat is poised to test their relationship at its core. Trust, loyalty, and old secrets will all be put on trial.

Kristen and Peter: A Villain Awakens

At the hospital, Kristen DiMera makes a chilling decision—pulling the plug on Peter Blake. In classic soap irony, the moment she believes she’s won is the moment everything goes wrong. Peter wakes up.

His sudden grasp of Kristen’s hand is pure Days of Our Lives brilliance. Kristen, rarely shaken, is rattled. Peter’s survival changes everything. He is dangerous, manipulative, and deeply vengeful. And now, he knows Kristen tried to kill him.

This could lead to blackmail, revenge, or a twisted alliance. Whatever comes next, Peter’s awakening unleashes a volatile force back into Salem. Kristen may think she controls the game—but Peter has never been anyone’s pawn.

Theo Carver Awakens—and Becomes a Target

Perhaps the most unsettling storyline belongs to Theo Carver. Waking from his coma should be a miracle—and for Abe and Paulina, it is. But joy quickly turns to dread when it’s revealed that Theo, too, is being watched.

The promo confirms his troubles are tied to the DiMera family, a revelation that raises terrifying possibilities. Did Theo witness something he shouldn’t have? Was he collateral damage in a DiMera power struggle? And who is filming him now—and why?

Theo has always been gentle, often caught in the crossfire of other people’s wars. This time, the danger feels personal. His memories may hold the key to a massive DiMera secret, making him both valuable and expendable. His recovery isn’t just a health journey—it’s the beginning of a high-stakes mystery that could shake Salem to its core.

Salem on the Brink

As January 5–9 unfolds, Days of Our Lives promises a week where every storyline collides with another. Love becomes a weapon. Power invites retaliation. Stalkers lurk, villains rise, and long-buried secrets threaten to surface.

Is this the end? Perhaps not—but it certainly feels like the beginning of something explosive. Salem is standing on a fault line, and one wrong move could bring everything crashing down.