The Young and the Restless Recap Jan 20: Matt Clark’s Fate Is Decided, Nick Has a Frightening Discovery

In the Young and the Restless recap for Tuesday, January 20, 2026, Matt’s fate is decided, Nick deals with his pain, Billy and Victoria draw lines, and Chelsea is made part of the family.

The Young and the Restless Recap

At Crimson Lights, Victoria was working on trying to save Newman when Billy came in. He asked her why she was sitting in the corner of a coffee shop working, but she wouldn’t tell him. Billy told her he already knew, but she still wouldn’t budge.

Billy told Victoria that he cared about her and promised they were talking off the record. He said that he got some tips at the office, but didn’t run the story.

Billy noted that even though it meant Jabot wasn’t a target, he was sorry it was happening to her and Nick. Victoria said she couldn’t let her guard down with him to tell him how bad it actually was.

Victoria changed the topic to ask about Sally, so Billy told her that he was proud of her work. “Oh boy, don’t get bored,” Victoria warned. She told Billy she knew him and knew what he was like.

Victoria revealed that Sally had confided in her about her concerns in their relationship, which left him unimpressed. Victoria asked if Billy still wanted Chancellor back.

Victoria warned Billy that if he went after Chancellor, Sally would probably leave him, but Billy said that his obsession with it was over. Victoria wondered if he was telling the truth or if he was prying for information to use against her in the press.

Billy said they’d both do what was best for them, noting that Victor has spent his life making Billy’s miserable, and Victoria’s rarely said anything in his defense. Billy curtly said that he would go after what he wanted and left.

At the ranch, Nikki kept Chelsea nourished while she pitched in to save the company. Chelsea asked Nikki what she’d do if she lost Chancellor. Nikki wanted to keep it for Katherine’s sake, but knew they were in trouble. Chelsea assured Nikki that no matter what happened, they would rebuild.

Nikki noted that Chelsea was a fighter for the family and thanked her. They talked about their initial opinions of Chelsea and how accepted into the family she was now. 

Nikki wondered if Chelsea and Adam ever talked about marriage.  Chelsea said she was just happy living in the space they were currently in, literally and figuratively.

Adam arrived and reported that Connor and Johnny were having a sleepover and were in bed. Adam suggested that Chelsea also get some rest, as the battle would continue the next day.

Alone later, Adam asked what Chelsea and Nikki talked about. “She thinks I’m like you and Victor!” Chelsea gushed. “And that’s a compliment?” Adam quipped. 

Adam and Chelsea chatted about going after the Abbotts and their disagreement over it. He had worried at the time that Chelsea could leave him. 

Chelsea assured Adam that that wasn’t the case, but still felt the same about Jabot. Chelsea and Adam cuddled up on the couch and she told him again that she wasn’t going anywhere.

Adam thought that first thing in the morning, he thought they should confront Cane and Phyllis, and she agreed. “They started this, and we should finish it. I’m not afraid to take down either one of them,” Chelsea said. 

Down at Sharon’s, Nick yelled at everyone to stop managing him. Nick finally conceded and offered Victor a deal: give him five minutes alone with Matt, and then Victor could do anything he wanted to him.

Victor gave Sharon the thumbs up as he left with Nick. Alone with Noah and Sharon, Sienna explained why she went to Victor. She hoped that Victor would do the right thing and hand Matt over to the police.

Two Newman guards took Matt out of the trunk as Nick told him that he was already tried and found guilty. “Oh yeah? Who’s the judge?” Matt snarked. Victor strolled in and said that he was.

The guards brought Matt to Sharon’s, made him sit down, and then Nick yelled at him to shut up. Nick proclaimed it was Matt’s sentencing.

Victor told Matt to take a good look at Sharon, Sienna, and Noah, as it was the last time he would see them. Noah came over and told Matt what he thought of him. 

Noah recounted how he made Noah feel good about his nightclub, and he considered him a mentor and friend. “It never occurred to me you had a different agenda,” Noah told him. 

Noah said he didn’t know how Matt had so much hate in his soul, but he was happy to have found Sienna. He rubbed it in that Matt lost her to a Newman.

Sienna went next and told Matt who he was when they met, and he swept her off her feet. She said none of that mattered now that she knew who he really was and the things he’d done.

Sharon told Matt that he failed in trying to ruin her life. She said that she had chosen Nick over him since high school, but he had nothing and no one. “You’re a miserable failure of a man,” Sharon concluded.

Nick limped over on his crutch to tell Matt what a loser he was. He told him to take some nice, long, deep breaths — because if it was up to him, they would be the last ones he ever took.

Matt noted that they were telling him how dangerous he was, when they were the ones plotting his murder. Nick lunged at Matt but Noah held him back. “You’re lucky!” Nick yelled at Matt before Noah led him away on his crutch.

Victor told the guards to take Matt to the main house instead. Matt yelled at them all that they were cowards, and wished Sienna well on his way out the door.

After they left, Sharon wondered if it was really over. “I hope so. I hope we never hear Matt Clark’s name ever again,” Nick told her.

Sharon wanted to get Nick to the hospital, but he was still thinking about Matt, lamenting that his dad should’ve let him handle Matt himself. 

Nick then told them that there were more issues going on than just Matt, and he needed to help with work stuff. Sharon was sure someone else could handle Newman problems. “I heard you the first time!” Nick snapped.

Nick turned on Sienna next, telling her he didn’t appreciate her involving herself and said she wasn’t family. Everyone started arguing, so Sharon told Nick to spend the night in the guest room and she’d take him to the doctor in the morning.

Nick went outside for some fresh air. Inside, Noah apologized to Sienna for the way his dad was acting but she thought Nick was right about something: she didn’t belong there.

Noah pleaded with Sienna not to let Nick bother her. He reminded her they had plenty more on their minds with Matt.

On the porch, Nick was writhing in pain as he held his leg. He shivered in the cold and put his hand in his pocket. Nick pulled out a bag of pills.

At the main house, Victor worked out with a punching bag. When he paused, he took off his gloves. He remembered teaching Nick how to box by imagining the bag was Matt.

At the time, Victor had advised Nick to only fight when he absolutely had to, and don’t initiate the fight. Nick had replied that with Matt, it may need to come to that.

Victor opened the door to a side room and told Matt, who was sitting on the floor, to get up. Victor shut the door behind him.

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