The Young and the Restless Recap Jan 8: Audra and Holden reconnect, Kyle has the ultimate leverage
In the Young and the Restless recap for Thursday, January 8, 2026, Kyle has something Victor wants, Billy spies on Phyllis, Audra and Holden reconnect, and Cane finds a way to fill the void.
The Young and the Restless Recap
At Crimson Lights, Audra saw Holden and snapped at him for telling Claire. He told her to remember where she was and keep her voice down. Audra was surprised to learn that Holden hadn’t told all to Claire — yet.
Audra reminded Holden that he once saved her life, but the way he looked at her now seemed to indicate he wished he hadn’t.
Audra told Holden that in all of her time in L.A., he was the only good guy she knew. “But the way you’re treating me now, it’s like that good guy is gone,” Audra said.
Audra explained that she had made such a mess of her life in Los Angeles that she wanted to forget it all. In doing so, she pushed him away. She wondered how their friendship turned into what it now was.
Holden thought that after what they went through, they’d have each others’ backs forever. He understood Audra’s walls, but he said when someone keeps them up all the time, it can be exhausting.
Holden had a flashback to being in the Shadow Room and how they put the man’s dead body in the trunk of Holden’s car. He had told Audra at the time to go to another bar and be seen there. As for Holden, he was going to finish his shift and told her he’d deal with it, but that he’d never help her again.
In real time, Holden made a peace offering with Audra. If she promised to leave Claire alone, then he wouldn’t tell her what really happened in L.A.
Audra agreed, and then they began joking about who caved first. When Audra put her hand on his chest, they both stopped and looked at one another. Audra suggested that they should consider being friends again.
Billy came home and found Sally waiting for him. He told her that he knew they were good but she was also waiting for the hammer to fall. Sally admitted that she was terrified that it could all disappear in an instant. Billy assured her he was going to do nothing but adore her and treat her the way she deserved.
Tearfully, Sally told Billy that when he talked like that, it squeezed out all the fear. Billy told her she didn’t have to worry about putting too much pressure on him, as he could take it.At the GCAC, Phyllis saw Cane drinking at the bar and noted how he was down in the dumps so he must be Cane because Aristotle would be taking names.
Cane snapped that Phyllis should stay away from “all of us” for good.
Phyllis asked if he’d given their talk any more thought about taking the AI program and running Newman. Cane coldly told her to leave him to drink alone.
Phyllis wondered what happened since the last time she’d seen him. Cane told Phyllis everything — about his and Lily’s talk, the kiss, and how she was leaving town to get away from him. Phyllis said that Lily sucked.
Phyllis said she was there for him and would always be. She asked him to at least acknowledge that she was always there for him. “I’m here…and together, we can take over the world. What are you waiting for?” she said.
Cane and Phyllis had dinner and he asked how she was so relentless. Phyllis said when she cared, she didn’t give up — adding that she cared about him.
Phyllis told Cane that he and Lily weren’t as great as he remembered, and she understood how that happened as she did the same with Nick. She said there was no need to wallow that something didn’t work out.
Phyllis told Cane to take the reins and conquer the world with her. Just then, he got a text from Mattie that said, “Spoke to Charlie. Stop calling, stop texting. We’re officially cutting all ties.”
Cane put his phone down and told Phyllis that Jack was by earlier and how he wanted to team up to force Victor’s hand. Behind them, Billy and Sally came in.
Billy saw Phyllis and Cane in a serious conversation and wondered what was going on. He told Sally to find them a table downstairs and he’d join her shortly.
Billy spied on Phyllis and Cane. He heard her saying that there was no better revenge than prying Newman Enterprises out of Victor’s hands.
At the Abbott mansion, Jack told Diane he thought of a way to get the proof that Victor had the AI program. He told her about his conversation with Cane.
Diane thought it was delicious that he would find Cane freshly rejected and vulnerable when he asked him. Diane didn’t have any sympathy for the position Cane was in with Lily, either.
Kyle came in, looking triumphantly smug. He announced that they had the ultimate bargaining chip. He explained that he had been working with Jabot’s security team secretly.
Jack and Diane weren’t sure how to react when Kyle told them that a man from Nick and Sharon’s past was back in town and harassing them. Diane asked what that had to do with Victor.
Kyle said his security team was following Nick, and he was taking ‘the guy’ somewhere. He told them about the crash and how one of the security guards stayed to help Nick, but the other went after Matt.
Jack asked if Nick was okay, but Kyle shrugged that all he knew was that he was taken to the hospital. Kyle was happily focused on knowing how Matt was, though.
Kyle made a call and said, “Come on in.” Jack and Diane looked horrified and scared as security brought a handcuffed Matt Clark into their home.
Jack couldn’t believe that Matt Clark was alive, much less in his house. He called Victor and told him that he had Matt — and it was time to make a deal.