Days of our Lives Recap Jan 9: Xander fires Brady

In the Days of our Lives recap for Friday, January 9th, 2026, Xander retaliates against Brady, Chanel turns on Johnny, Dimitri kisses Leo, and Johnny has a dilemma.

Days of our Lives Recap

At the pub, Johnny met with Xander, who wasn’t pleased that he was staying on longer at DiMera than agreed upon. Johnny promised it was just until Theo returned, and noted he was already on the mend.

Xander reminded Johnny that he couldn’t share Titan information and wanted him to sign an agreement. While he was getting out the paperwork, Johnny spotted a copy of Bonnie’s new book.

Xander said they didn’t have the funds to publish two books in the same genre. Johnny signed the privacy agreement, but he seemed like he was thinking.

At the Kiriakis mansion, Brady and Sarah were coy when Maggie asked if they had a good time together. Brady got a message from the doctor at Bayview who wanted to meet at the same time as a meeting at Titan.

Brady told Maggie that Titan was his grandfather’s legacy, and Basic Black was his father’s. He brought tears to Maggie’s eyes when he said he had a vested interest in making sure that both companies succeed.

Before leaving, Sarah got a text letting her know that he divorce was final. She insisted she was great and hopeful about what was to come.

Maggie got to the office, and Xander told her about Stephanie’s creepy fan letters and the cancellation of her book tour. As he reached for her contract, Xander realized he had been sent his divorce decree.

Maggie extended her comfort, but Xander got snappish. He calmed down and told her that he would be fine. 

Maggie said she’d told Brady he could miss the meeting as his daughter needed him. Xander lamented that he didn’t get to see his. “You know that’s nobody’s fault but your own,” Maggie said firmly before leaving.

Leo went to see Javi and said that he was sure Gwen orchestrated Dimitri’s return for their wedding as revenge. He insisted that he wanted to spend his life with Javi.

Leo was confused when Javi was upset that Leo hadn’t talked to Dimitri. He explained that if Leo had no feelings for him, it wouldn’t have bothered him to see him. 

Leo implored Javi to believe that he loved him in a way that he never had with Dimitri. He kissed Javi, but he pulled away.

Javi said he couldn’t trust Leo’s feelings unless he talked to Dimitri. Leo said Javi was looking at him like he was the old Leo and that just because some flame showed up, he would throw away the best thing that happened to him.

Javi told Leo that he just found out why he thought his love ended was a lie — and therefore his love could still be alive. He told Leo to go find out what his heart really wanted. 

Leo agreed to pack his things but said he would be back to prove to Javi that he loved him and no one else. “That is a promise,” Leo told him.

Chanel told Paulina she was pregnant, but she didn’t have full medical clearance. Chanel shared that Johnny didn’t want the baby. She said if there was even a chance the pregnancy was viable, she was going to have it.

Paulina understood, but also could see Johnny’s side. Chanel told her mom about meeting someone at the park, who thought Chanel was Trey’s nanny.

Chanel said she loved Trey, but if she had the chance to have a biological child, she would. Meanwhile, she felt Johnny was treating her like she was irresponsible.

When Johnny came home, Paulina told him about her conversation with Chanel. Just then, Chanel suddenly had a sharp pain and needed a doctor.

At the hospital, Johnny blamed himself for upsetting Chanel. Paulina comforted him as Chanel was examined by Sarah, who said the baby seemed fine.

Sarah told Chanel to try and bring her tension levels down. Chanel didn’t know how she wouldn’t be stressed when her husband didn’t want the baby she was carrying.

Johnny came in and Chanel said, “The baby is fine. Are you disappointed?” “What? Of course not,” Johnny gasped. Sarah said she couldn’t weigh in on Chanel’s decision but she could explain the risks to them both.

Sarah reminded them that the hormone that detects cancer is the same one that is secreted during a pregnancy. “What do we do?” Johnny asked. “We don’t do anything,” Chanel said through gritted teeth.

She announced that if the pregnancy were viable, she would have the baby.

In the hall, Javi saw Trey with Paulina. She stood awkwardly by while Javi fawned over the baby, telling him how much he loved him.

At the DiMera mansion, Dimitri forewarned Gwen he’d be filing for divorce. As she was the sole suspect in his kidnapping and imprisonment, he’d had her joint access frozen.

Dimitri promised Gwen that not only would she lose everything, but he would ensure she had to pay back everything she spent while he was away.

Gwen tried to ruffle Dimitri’s feathers about Matty loving Javi instead. Dimitri was sure that Leo would come to him. Sure enough, as Gwen left, Leo arrived.

Leo told Dimitri that he was sorry for what happened to him and that he willingly believed he wrote the Dear John letter. “But most importantly, I’m sorry if you believe we’re getting back together,” Leo told him. 

As Leo told Dimitri how much he loved Javi, Dimitri grabbed Leo and kissed him.

When Brady got to Xander’s office, he wanted to know why he didn’t submit a report. He told Brady that if his numbers didn’t improve, he’d have to shut down Basic Black.

Brady asked if Xander’s tantrum was about numbers or about him and Sarah. Xander found it interesting that he finally admitted there was a him and Sarah.

Xander said it was fine, and Brady didn’t need to send the report as he was fired. 

Want to know what happens next? Tune into The Soap Scene for all the Days of our Lives spoilers!