The Young and the Restless Recap Jan 2: Ian Ward returns, Matt and Nick make a deal
In The Young and the Restless recap for Friday, January 2nd, 2026, Ian guides Mariah, Matt and Nick make a deal, and Tessa makes a big decision.
The Young and the Restless Recap
At Sharon’s, Noah was anxiously awaiting word on Sienna, and Sharon was trying to calm him when Adam came by to check in. Things quickly turned tense when Adam offended Noah by questioning love for Sienna.
Adam told Noah that he found it odd that he fell in love with the wife of the guy who tormented his parents for years and wondered how well he actually knew her.
Adam suggested that Sienna was helping Matt, or using Noah to make Matt jealous. Noah stood by her staunchly and said he was sick of everyone in the family thinking the worst of the woman he loved.
Noah snapped that Sienna was smart, even if she married Matt. He said her life could be in danger and asked Adam for more compassion and less judgment.
Adam told Noah that he trusted his instincts and if he trusted Sienna, then he would as well. He promised Noah his full support.
At the main house, Nick told Victor that he’d made the offer to Matt, but he hadn’t heard from him yet. Victor had the same suspicions about Sienna as Adam.
Nick thought Sienna could be trusted, and was caught up with someone she didn’t know how to deal with. Because Noah loved her, he felt obligated to help.
Nick got a text from Matt, wanting to meet. Victor offered security, but Nick said Matt was too savvy. Victor told him he had another idea.
In a motel room, Sienna moaned on the bed. As Annie watched, Matt took a quick video of Sienna and said it was the key to his future. He told Sienna that she didn’t get a future.
At Crimson Lights, Tessa saw Daniel. They had some small talk about music, then Tessa asked him to go on the patio. They both said they had no regrets about their night together.
Tessa talked about Mariah and how she’d deserted them. She said that she called a lawyer to start divorce proceedings. Daniel hoped he hadn’t influenced that, although he had strong feelings for her.
Tessa noted that Daniel had always encouraged her marriage and said that she wouldn’t have gotten through it without him, but the decision was right and her own.
Daniel wondered if he should pull back and give Tessa some time alone, but she said if he had no doubts, then not to. Daniel assured her he had no doubts, and they began kissing.
In a motel room, Mariah looked at a photo of her, Tessa, and Aria and spoke aloud to Aria, musing how she used to sing to her, and how she wasn’t sleeping because of nightmares. A vision of Ian Ward appeared, smirking as he asked if calling him a nightmare was any way to talk about someone who loved her the most.
Mariah told Ian to go away, but he wouldn’t. He told her to look in the mirror and see her strength, her truth. He told her she intentionally pushed away Tessa and Aria for a reason.
Ian said that Mariah loved them, but they had moved on, and she had to do the same, and release Tessa, Aria, and that part of her life, forever. Mariah sobbed as he became more insistent.
Ian told Mariah that she deserved to be whole again, but the only way was to be free. Ian said that Mariah knew deep down inside that the time was now. “You’re right. The path is clear. The plan is set. And I just believe that nothing can go wrong,” Mariah agreed. “Nothing will,” Ian said confidently.
Nick met Matt at the park and asked if they had a deal or not. Matt said they did, but wanted $5 million instead of one. Nick said he’d need proof of life. Matt showed him the video.
Victor went to Sharon’s and told Noah that Nick was taking care of things. Nick soon returned and told them that Matt wanted five million immediately. He said that Sienna was alive, but Noah wasn’t so sure. He didn’t know when the video was taken and thought it proved nothing. Nick assured Noah that Matt wasn’t going to do anything stupid to screw up the deal for himself.
Matt returned to the motel room and told Annie that the Newmans took the deal. When Annie noted the details of the plan meant that the “lovebirds” got to live, he wondered what gave her that idea.
Matt was triggered into yelling that the way it ended was with Noah and Sienna in a deep, dark grave, never to be seen or heard from ever again.
Want to know what happens next? Check out our previews for next week with the Young and the Restless spoilers at The Soap Scene.