Rolf Brings Shocking News: EJ Becomes the New Stefano | Days of Our Lives Spoilers

Salem is once again standing on the edge of history, and longtime Days of Our Lives fans can feel it in the air. The town that has survived kidnappings, secret twins, demonic possessions, and countless resurrections is now bracing for a legacy shift that could redefine power forever. At the heart of it all is one chilling question that refuses to go away: Is EJ DiMera about to become the new Stefano?

The week of February 9–13 delivers one of the most haunting and symbol-heavy moments the DiMera saga has seen in years, reminding viewers that even in death, Stefano DiMera’s influence is impossible to escape. The Phoenix may have been laid to rest, but his fire is far from extinguished.

It all begins with a solemn gathering inside the DiMera family crypt, a place steeped in secrets, betrayals, and dark triumphs. This time, however, the mood is different. There are no dramatic resurrections or last-minute twists—at least not yet. Chad, Kristen, Tony, and the rest of the DiMera clan come together to finally give Stefano a proper farewell. After decades of schemes, faked deaths, and miraculous returns, Stefano’s remains are at last sealed away, symbolizing what should be the end of an era.

Emotions run high as each family member reflects on the complicated man who ruled Salem from the shadows for so long. Stefano was a monster to many, a mastermind to others, and a fiercely loyal patriarch in his own twisted way. He built an empire through manipulation, fear, and brilliance, and his legacy has shaped nearly every DiMera who followed in his footsteps.

Standing front and center is EJ DiMera, the eldest son and the one who has always walked the finest line between ambition and conscience. As the family mourns, EJ delivers a powerful declaration. With calm intensity, he vows that the DiMera name will endure no matter the cost. It’s meant to sound reassuring, a promise of stability after chaos—but beneath the words lies something darker. For some in attendance, it feels less like a vow and more like a warning.

Yet the true turning point doesn’t happen in front of the family. It comes later, in a quiet, tension-filled moment that changes everything.

Enter Dr. Wilhelm Rolf.

Few names in Salem inspire as much unease as Rolf’s. The eccentric scientist has cheated death more times than anyone can count, often at Stefano’s command. He has resurrected the dead, altered memories, and pushed science far beyond morality. When Rolf appears, fans know reality itself is about to bend.

Catching EJ alone, Rolf drops his usual unsettling charm and speaks with rare gravity. He reveals that before Stefano’s final end, he was entrusted with one last instruction—one that was meant for EJ and EJ alone. According to Rolf, this was Stefano’s final wish, a “gift” meant to secure the future of the DiMera empire.

Then comes the moment that sent shockwaves through the fandom.

From his pocket, Rolf produces the iconic black onyx ring engraved with the Phoenix—the most powerful symbol in DiMera history. This isn’t just a piece of jewelry. This ring has long represented dominance, control, and rebirth. Whispers over the years have even suggested it carries a supernatural weight, tied to Stefano’s uncanny ability to rise from the ashes time and time again.

As the ring gleams under the crypt’s dim lighting, time seems to slow. EJ stares at it, clearly understanding the magnitude of what he’s being offered. This isn’t about inheritance or sentimentality. This is about succession.

Rolf explains that Stefano wanted EJ to have the ring, believing he was the only one strong—and ruthless—enough to carry on the DiMera legacy properly. When Rolf places the ring into EJ’s palm, the moment feels almost ceremonial, like a dark coronation.

EJ hesitates. Just for a heartbeat.

For years, EJ has struggled to be different from his father while still honoring the DiMera name. He has shown flashes of compassion, regret, and even a desire for redemption. But he has also proven time and again that when pushed, he is capable of ruthless calculation and moral compromise.

Finally, EJ slides the ring onto his finger.

The camera lingers on the black stone, the Phoenix catching the light in a way that feels both promising and ominous. In that instant, something shifts. Fans can practically feel it—the subtle but undeniable transformation. This isn’t just EJ wearing his father’s ring. This is EJ stepping into Stefano’s shadow and possibly embracing it.

The implications are massive.

Throughout Days of Our Lives history, the Phoenix ring has never been worn lightly. Those who have claimed it have found their lives irrevocably changed. Power follows the ring, but so does darkness. Ambition sharpens. Mercy fades. The line between right and wrong blurs until it disappears entirely.

EJ has always possessed Stefano’s intellect—the strategic mind, the long-game thinking, the willingness to sacrifice others for a greater goal. What he’s lacked, until now, is full surrender to that philosophy. With the ring on his finger, fans are left wondering if EJ is about to abandon restraint altogether.

And the timing couldn’t be more dangerous.

The DiMera family is already fractured. Recent deaths and long-buried secrets have reignited bitter inheritance battles. Rumors swirl that Gabi may have a legitimate claim to a massive portion of the DiMera fortune, threatening the balance of power. Old alliances are shaky, and old grudges are resurfacing fast.

In this chaos, EJ wearing the Phoenix ring sends a clear message: there will be order—and it will come on his terms.

Could this be the moment EJ decides to rule the DiMera empire with an iron fist, unifying the family through fear and control just as Stefano once did? Will he turn to Dr. Rolf again, reopening the door to forbidden experiments and unethical “miracles”? Or will his enemies sense the shift and strike before EJ can fully cement his dominance?

There’s also the haunting possibility that the ring awakens something irreversible inside EJ. Fans know how often Days blurs the line between science and the supernatural. Is the Phoenix ring merely symbolic, or does it carry a darker influence that amplifies the wearer’s worst instincts? If so, EJ may find himself pulled deeper into the abyss his father once ruled—whether he wants it or not.

One thing is certain: this storyline isn’t just about EJ. It’s about legacy, power, and whether the DiMera curse can ever truly be broken. Stefano DiMera may be gone, but the Phoenix legend refuses to die quietly. And now, with EJ at the center of its fiery rebirth, Salem may be facing its most dangerous chapter yet.

As the episodes ahead unfold, fans will be watching closely for every subtle change in EJ’s behavior—every calculated move, every moral compromise, every chilling echo of Stefano himself. Is this the rise of a new Phoenix, or the beginning of EJ’s ultimate downfall?

What do you think, Days fans? Is EJ destined to become the next Stefano DiMera, or will he fight the pull of that ominous ring and choose a different path? Share your theories, predictions, and hottest takes—because in Salem, nothing stays buried forever.