Days of our Lives Recap Jan 6: Theo wakes up, Javi breaks down, Gwen and Dimitri have it out

In the Days of our Lives recap for Tuesday, January 6, 2026, Paulina tries to annoy Theo into waking up, Gwen and Dimitri argue, Chad and Julie celebrate together, Marlena counsels Leo, and Javi cries himself to sleep.

Days of our Lives Recap

At the hospital, Paulina and Abe sat by Theo’s side. Paulina blew a New Year’s Eve horn at Theo. She reasoned that nothing else worked, so she thought she’d try annoying him into waking up.

It worked, and soon Theo was awake and trying to remember what happened to him. He asked how everyone was, then wondered how they got out of the crypt.

Abe said that was a story for another day as Theo needed his rest. Paulina called around town to spread the good word.

At the DiMera mansion, Dimitri wanted to know what Gwen was doing there. Gwen and Dimitri argued about who was worse.

Gwen told Dimitri that she married him for love, and that she’d believed all the things he’d told her. She said that he used her to get his inheritance.

Dimitri bellowed that she had his inheritance and had somehow convinced EJ to let her live in his family’s home. He accused her of being behind his disappearance.

Dimitri threatened to go to the ISA with his accusations but Gwen laughed in his face that Billy would love to hear from him. She sneered that he had no proof.

Gwen’s smirk faded quickly when Dimitri told her that she didn’t think things through: Now that he was free, he was going to divorce her and leave her penniless.

Gwen reminded Dimitri that he had to stay married to meet the terms of his inheritance. Dimitri claimed he just had to be married by the age of 40, and there was no requirement to stay married.

Dimitri had no remorse for how he’d hurt Gwen. He accused her of capturing him and ruining his life, and thought they were even.

Gwen suggested that Dimitri go get a room at the Salem Inn, noting she’d heard that’s where Leo was. Dimitri told her he’d rather spend the night at the mansion. As Gwen stormed off, Dimitri sipped champagne and muttered, “Even if it kills us,” with a sly smile.

Just as Rafe, Marlena, Gabi, and Chad were wondering why the newlyweds weren’t at their reception, a drunken Javi came in and said that Leo wasn’t coming. Javi explained what happened.

Chad suggested that Rafe and Gabi take Javi home but he said he wasn’t going anywhere. He paid a lot of money for the reception, and he was going to enjoy it, he said as he grabbed a bottle of champagne.

Rafe thought someone brought Dimitri back as revenge on Leo, but Javi didn’t care about the reason. He thought his marriage was over.

Rafe and Gabi tried to cheer up Javi, then brought him home. Javi was pretty drunk, and they convinced him to go to bed.

Once alone, Gabi thought it was a horrible way for Javi to start the new year, but Rafe pointed it out it wasn’t much better for Leo. They both hoped that Leo would come back.

Upstairs, Javi cried in bed as he kissed his wedding ring. Across town, Leo wiped the rose petals off the bed and tried to sleep.

In the hotel room, Leo was deep in thought. He saw the card from Javi on the desk, looked at it and then walked out. He got to the square as the last chairs were being taken away, and he stepped on one of the balloons.

Marlena and Chad spotted Leo and approached him in the square. He was in shock and told them that he didn’t want to track down Dimitri to talk to him. Chad said he would go home but told Leo to call him if he needed him.

Leo was relieved when Marlena told him she wasn’t going anywhere. They sat on a bench, and Leo opened up about how confused he was.

Marlena shared how she felt when Roman returned, and she longed for the connection that she and John shared. She said she put people through anguish before realizing that John was her one true love.

Marlena advised Leo to sit with it for a while before making any decisions. He went through who both men were.

As he talked, Leo noted how different Javi and Dimitri were, but was still confused as to who he loved more. Leo decided to sleep on it.

Chad came home to the Horton house and said Happy New Year to Julie, then told her about Dimitri and the wedding blow-up. Chad didn’t think he could sleep, so he asked to hang out with Julie.

Soon, the conversation was about the kids. Julie tearfully told Chad that she couldn’t take sides, but she loved the kids and their daddy.

Chad thanked her for taking care of them, and Julie was grateful that they were living with her when she lost Doug. “You three were my light,” she cried.

Just then, Paulina called and told Julie the good news. She was crying when she hung up and told Chad that Theo was awake. Relieved, Chad hugged Julie.

Julie and Chad talked about his feelings for Cat, and Julie told him that she knew how hard it was to walk away from the person you love. Chad told Julie that his kids were his only priority.

Can’t wait to find out what happens next? Watch the Days of our Lives spoilers video at The Soap Scene.