Days of our Lives Recap, April 24: Joy Wesley gives returns to Salem...and Alex

On Friday, April 24, 2026, of Days of our Lives, Alex helped Stephanie, Sarah and Brady relieved stress, Xander’s ultimatum backfired, Kristen moved forward with her plan to kill EJ, and probate court had unexpected news about Stefano’s will.

What happened on Days of our Lives

Stephanie was feeling better | Image: Peacock

Alex took the day off work to spend with Stephanie. When Alex noted that Stephanie had been sleeping better, Stephanie agreed that the gun Steve had given her had helped her feel safer. As a surprise, Alex took Stephanie skydiving. Stephanie was thrilled to do something she loved.

After they skydived, Stephanie told Alex that he had picked the perfect activity to help her feel present in her life. “I promise you a lifetime of adventures. First the sky, and then the moon,” Alex whispered. “I can’t wait,” Stephanie said. Stephanie promised to continue their day together when she returned from the gun range. After Stephanie left, there was a knock at the door. It was Joy.

Smash and Gab

Sarah took Brady to the rage room | Image: Peacock

Xander was walking through the square with Victoria when he ran into Johnny. Johnny told Xander he would not settle the lawsuit. Xander noted that it was easier for Johnny to spread rumors than admit that he had been incompetent. Frustrated, Johnny warned Xander to stop making threats when he knew that he and Kate had set him up. Sarah interrupted, so Johnny left.

Sarah teased Xander for attacking his competition and accused Xander of being jealous of all that Johnny had in his life. When Xander changed the subject to Victoria and mentioned that Victoria had not seemed to miss Sarah, Sarah scowled.

At the Brady Pub, Marlena joined Brady while he waited for Sarah. Marlena told Brady that Kristen had prohibited her from visiting Rachel at Bayview. Brady was furious. Marlena advised Brady to wait a couple days before he confronted Kristen, but Brady noted that Kristen was already at war with him. A frustrated Brady argued that Kristen spent all her energy on revenge plots rather than Rachel. Brady refused to let Kristen keep Marlena from her granddaughter.

Marlena changed the subject to Basic Black and confessed that she could not trust Kate to have her back. Brady offered to back up Marlena until he could find a suitable replacement, so she agreed to run Basic Black.

After Marlena left, Brady left a messasge for Kristen that she could not keep Marlena from Rachel. As Brady slammed his phone on the table, Sarah walked in. Sarah complained about how Xander. Brady told Sarah about his frustration with Kristen. “Should we do something about it?” Sarah asked, before taking Brady to a rage room to relieve stress.

Xander's folly

Xander made an enemy of Marlena | Image: Peacock

Marlena stopped by the DiMera Enterprises offices to inform Xander that she wanted to take the job at Basic Black. Xander said he was thrilled with the idea that Marlena and Kate were teaming up together to restore John’s company. Marlena explained that she did not want to work with Kate, but that Brady had agreed to help her in the short term. Xander argued that Marlena needed Kate, and she could not refuse her based on something Xander said in his counseling session.

“Are you going to lecture me about ethics after what you and Kate did to Johnny?” Marlena asked. Xander said he had been forced to fire Brady because he had not been interested in the work. Marlena countered that Xander had fired Brady because of Sarah. Xander noted that Basic Black had become a success because of Kate, not John and informed his shrink she would have to work with Kate — or else. Marlena told Xander that she did not like ultimatums and walked out.

The DiMera sibling feud continues to escalate

EJ had it out with Kristen | Image: Peacock

At the DiMera mansion, EJ informed Kristen that he was headed to probate court to deal with a newly filed codicil to Stefano’s will. Kristen mocked EJ’s role as the favored heir. With a chuckle, EJ called Kristen jealous. Kristen demanded access codes to the tunnels. EJ refused and told Kristen to focus on her daughter instead of the house.

Kristen insisted that Rachel was the most important thing to her, but EJ countered that Kristen needed to think about why Rachel had struggled with mental health. Kristen smacked EJ across the face. “You keep my daughter’s name out of your mouth!” Kristen yelled before smacking her brother across the face.

“At least your daughter loves you,” EJ said. EJ apologized for having hurt Kristen’s feelings, and he said he was sure that Rachel would get out soon. Kristen narrowed her eyes. EJ warned Kristen never to strike him again, or she would regret the war it would start.

Partners in crime

Sophia and Kristen make quite a team | Image: Peacock

On EJ’s way through the square, he spotted Sophia sitting in the cafe. EJ told Sophia that she had a lot of nerve to walk around Salem after she had thrown Trey’s adoption into chaos. Sophia told EJ she was surprised that Johnny was speaking to him again. EJ advised Sophia to leave Salem. With a smirk, Sophia told EJ that she was not afraid of him.

“You don’t need to be scared for me to ruin you,” EJ growled. Kristen intervened and told EJ to stop menacing a teenager. With a chuckle, EJ told Kristen he did not need to deal with Kristen, because she would cause her own destruction. Before EJ left, he warned Sophia that he was not done with her.

Sophia noted that she was lucky to have a family that loved one another. “I’m really going to miss them,” Sophia said. Kristen asked Sophia if she was chickening out on their plan. With a shake of her head, Sophia said she needed to leave Salem and start fresh. “And that’s exactly what you are going to do. Once your mission is completed,” Kristen said.

In the pub, EJ ran into Johnny and he told him about the will reading. EJ noted that although Johnny had refused any “blood money,” he hoped that Johnny would reconsider. Johnny argued that he still had decades until he had to consider taking any inheritance from EJ. Worried, EJ asked Johnny if anything was wrong. Johnny said no, and he did not tell his father about Chanel’s health scare.

When EJ returned from court, Johnny was still in the pub, EJ explained that the filed codicil had named Theo as the executor of the estate. EJ said that Marlena had been added to the list of beneficiaries, but none of the other changes would be revealed until the actual will reading.