Days of our Lives Recap, May 15, 2026: Kristen asked Xander to kill EJ

On the Friday, May 15, 2026, episode of Days of our Lives, Javi worried about his job, Leo worried about his story, EJ told Cat about his plan to recover his memories, Gwen grew dissatisfied with Xander, and Kristen asked yet another person to murder EJ for her.

What happened on Days of our Lives

Javi and Rafe on Days of our Lives | Image: Peacock

In the Hernandez kitchen, Javi still had a cough from the gas inhalation. Rafe said he was thankful that Javi had saved Johnny. Javi admitted he had known better than to go into the apartment without equipment, but that he had panicked when he had feared that Trey was inside. Rafe called Javi a hero. Javi disagreed and said he agreed with the captain’s decision to suspend him. Rafe suggested that Javi appeal to EJ for help with the captain. Javi refused. When Javi noted that he might move back to Texas if things did not go well at work, Rafe asked Javi if that decision was more about Leo than work.

No regrets

Cat and EJ on Days of our Lives | Image: JPI

At the hospital, EJ asked Cat if she understood why he had kept Lexie’s treatment a secret from her. Cat said she understood. EJ said that the outcome had been worth the struggle to keep the secret. Cat asked about the next steps for the drug treatment. EJ said he stood by how he had skirted FDA laws. Cat noted that she was concerned about how it would affect her brother’s parole. EJ assured Cat that Mark had only worked on animal testing, which had been above board. EJ added that he had not broken any laws to help Lexie.

EJ noted that although he did not regret his actions with Lexie, he did regret that he had lost his memories of Cat from Italy. EJ informed Cat that he had made an appointment to undergo hypnosis with Marlena so that he could remember why he and Cat had bonded.

The EJ problem

Chad and Kristen on Days of our Lives | Image: Peacock

At the DiMera mansion, Kristen and Chad talked about Lexie’s return from the dead. Kristen argued that Stefano’s attempts at playing god should have died with him. Chad disagreed. Kristen asked Chad if he was hoping to see Abigail again. Chad admitted that he had asked EJ, and EJ had confirmed that it was not possible to help Abigail because her body had not been preserved.

Kristen noted that she -- unlike EJ -- had learned that it was a bad idea to play god. “Maybe it’s because he had cheated death just as much as Father did,” Chad said. Kristen argued that EJ’s actions had hurt Rachel and countless other people. “It has to stop right now,” Kristen said. Chad asked how. Kristen backpedaled and said she could not be the one to stop EJ. Kristen added that it was not her place to dispense justice because she had no desire to return to prison and leave Rachel again. Chad appeared to buy Kristen’s performance.

The Brady Pub bunch

Leo and Chad on Days of our Lives | Image: JPI

Chad met up with Leo at the pub, and Leo urged Chad to publish a story on Lexie’s return. Chad reluctantly agreed, and he stressed that Leo needed to be respectful. When Leo mentioned that he and Cat had almost run into Lexie before her debut, Chad asked why Cat had been in the tunnels with Leo. Leo thought about how he had accused Cat of working for the ISA, but he did not tell Chad about it. Leo explained that Cat had been there for wine, and she had lied at the hospital to protect Leo.

When EJ walked in, Leo scurried out. EJ made a snide remark, but Chad defended Leo as a good person. Chad told EJ that he wanted to talk about EJ’s romantic interest in Cat. “She’s off limits to you. Does that mean she’s off-limits to everyone else?” EJ asked. “Just you,” Chad said. Chad warned EJ to stay away from Cat, but EJ refused.

Some strings attached

Xander and Gwen had some love in the afternoon | Image: Peacock

Xander met up with Gwen in her room at the Salem Inn for a lunchtime quickie. After sex, Gwen was disappointed that Xander said he had to return to work. Xander reminded Gwen that they had agreed to a "no strings attached" relationship. Gwen asked Xander if he was tired of her now that he did not have the opportunity to torment EJ at the mansion. Xander reminded Gwen that he was not emotionally available. “Because you’re still in love with Sarah,” Gwen said. Xander got a text from Kristen, and Gwen coldly said goodbye.

Blown covers and heartfelt gestures

Rafe and Cat on Days of our Lives | Image: JPI

So what’s the next problem?” Rafe asked. Cat told Rafe about EJ’s plan to work with Marlena. Worried, Rafe said he wanted to pull Cat from the mission. Cat refused to give up when there was a possibility of the drug going to the black market. “We need to stop him,” Rafe said.

Leo knocked on the front door, so Cat ducked into a bedroom so that Rafe could answer the door. When Leo presented a bag with Javi’s favorite meal, Rafe reminded Leo that Javi wanted a clean break from him. “I just thought that I would make a kind gesture,” Leo said. Rafe explained that Javi had gone to the airport to pick up his boyfriend. Leo deflated. As Leo started to walk out, Rafe told Leo that he was sorry about how things had ended. “Me too,” Leo whispered as he walked out.

When Leo returned to the Salem Inn, he ran into Gwen in the hallway. Gwen noticed that Leo was upset, and she asked if something had happened with Javi. Leo said he was upset about Javi and that his story on EJ had fallen apart. Gwen invited Leo to join her for a walk and a coffee. “It beats brooding alone,” Leo said. “Here’s to shared misery then,” Gwen said.

Plan B

Kristen and Xander are up to no good on Days of our Lives | Image: JPI

Fresh from sex with another woman, Xander met up with Kristen in another room of the hotel. When Xander hinted that he had hoped Kristen had summoned him to a hotel room for something other than conversation, Kristen laughed. “No wonder you came so fast,” Kristen said. Xander said he had noticed Kristen watching him. Kristen explained that any look she had given him was exhaustion from dealing with Xander’s ego.

“What do you want from me?” Xander asked. Kristen said she wanted to talk about how to deal with EJ. Kristen explained that her plan to exploit EJ’s secret had been a bust because Lexie’s revival had not been illegal. “I want you to kill him,” Kristen said.

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