Salem is no stranger to chaos, betrayal, and long-buried secrets, but the week of January 26th is shaping up to be one of the most explosive chapters in Days of Our Lives history. Two powerhouse returns are about to collide, and the fallout will leave no corner of Salem untouched.

Fans have been counting the days, and now the wait is finally over. After weeks offscreen, EJ DiMera storms back into town, bringing with him the unmistakable energy of a man who thrives on control, vengeance, and power. Portrayed with signature intensity by Dan Feuerriegel, EJ’s return is anything but subtle. From the moment he sets foot back in Salem, tension crackles in the air — and that’s before he learns the truth waiting for him.

According to spoilers, EJ returns on Monday, January 26th, fresh from an extended stay in Italy. While the show has kept much of his time abroad under wraps, whispers suggest EJ may have been visiting his daughter Sydney — a rare glimpse of vulnerability beneath his ruthless exterior. But any chance of a softened EJ vanishes the second he comes home.

Instead of a warm welcome, EJ is blindsided by a devastating revelation delivered by none other than Police Commissioner Rafe Hernandez. In the aftermath of a harrowing hostage crisis that trapped members of the DiMera family inside their ancestral crypt, forensic results have finally come back. What they reveal changes everything.

The remains discovered in the crypt belong to Stefano DiMera.

The Phoenix. The legendary mastermind. The man whose shadow has haunted Salem for decades.

For years, rumors swirled that Stefano might still be alive, pulling strings from the shadows. But now, the truth is undeniable. The bones are his. The legend is truly gone.

For EJ, this isn’t just closure — it’s an emotional earthquake. Stefano was both his idol and his tormentor, the architect of the DiMera legacy and the source of so much pain. Learning that his father’s remains were hidden in the very crypt meant to honor their ancestors hits EJ like a tidal wave. But grief is not something EJ DiMera wears openly. Instead, he weaponizes it.

Expect EJ’s return to ignite a torrent of rage, especially toward those he believes are responsible for recent betrayals. At the top of that list is Gwen Rizczech. Spoilers tease blistering confrontations filled with venomous dialogue, shattered alliances, and threats that feel dangerously close to becoming reality. With EJ armed by grief and fury, these scenes promise verbal warfare at its most savage.

Meanwhile, the tension doesn’t stop there.

EJ’s return also sets the stage for explosive sibling drama with Kristen DiMera. The DiMera siblings have never been united for long, and old wounds are about to rip wide open. Kristen, ever the schemer, may see EJ’s emotional turmoil as the perfect opportunity to advance her own agenda. Will they join forces against common enemies — or will their rivalry tear the DiMera empire apart from the inside?

As if one seismic return weren’t enough, Salem is rocked once more by the comeback of a true icon of villainy.

Enter Vivian Alamain.

After nearly a year offscreen, the brilliant, unapologetic, and utterly dangerous Vivian returns — portrayed once again by the legendary Louise Sorel. Her presence alone raises the stakes instantly. Vivian doesn’t just create chaos; she curates it.

Vivian’s return is triggered by a desperate call from Gwen, who finds herself entangled in deeper trouble than ever before. At the center of the storm is Dmitri von Leuschner, whose manipulations and financial betrayals have become a major threat. Gwen wants Dmitri gone — permanently, if possible.

And when someone needs to disappear, Vivian Alamain is the only name worth calling.

Vivian arrives in Salem like a storm cloud — elegant, calculating, and dripping with menace. Her sharp wit and cold confidence are as chilling as ever. Fans can expect clandestine meetings, whispered threats, and schemes that are anything but straightforward. Vivian’s plans often involve deception, manipulation, and the occasional brush with the macabre. And history tells us she rarely plays by anyone else’s rules.

Will Vivian enlist old allies? Will science, deception, or betrayal come into play? Or will she turn the tables on Gwen herself, using the situation to further her own ambitions tied to her son Stefan or unresolved family fortunes?

The most dangerous possibility of all? Vivian crossing paths with EJ DiMera.

Their shared history of rivalry, uneasy alliances, and mutual distrust makes their inevitable interactions must-watch television. With EJ driven by legacy and revenge, and Vivian fueled by chaos and control, Salem becomes a powder keg waiting to explode.

Together, their returns create a perfect storm. Secrets resurface. Power shifts. Lives are put in danger.

This isn’t just a week of comebacks — it’s a turning point.

As January 26th approaches, fans should brace themselves for confrontations that redefine alliances, revelations that close long-running mysteries, and villains operating at the height of their power. Salem has never felt more volatile.

So, Days fans, the question remains:
Will EJ’s grief fuel his next ruthless rise?
Will Vivian succeed in making Dmitri vanish?
And when these two forces collide… who will survive the fallout?

One thing is certain — in Salem, no one ever truly stays gone.

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