WILD WEEK IN SALEM: Marlena Faints, Doug Steals, Sophia Lies & Ari's Near-Death Escape!

Here is your weekly recap for Days of our Lives for the episodes that aired July 21st through July 25th, 2025.

What happened on Days of our Lives

Gabi doubted her skills as a parent, and Xander gave her a pep talk. Tony told Gabi that he wanted to retake control of DiMera, and he asked her to dig up dirt on Xander and Philip. Gabi said no because she did not want to stab Xander in the back. Tony offered Gabi the position as CEO with him as an advisor. Gabi agreed to join forces.

Philip told Johnny that he believed he was innocent. When Xander argued that Johnny should not join the company, Philip convinced Xander that Johnny was a good addition. Johnny promised he was loyal to Titan. Johnny recorded the joint video statement with Xander and Philip, but they barely got through the recording of it without sniping at one another.

When Sarah complained to Kayla about Xander’s volatility, Kayla suggested that Xander talk to Marlena about her anger management therapy. Xander let Sarah spend time with Victoria in his office. When Xander asked for a custody agreement, Sarah agreed on the condition that Xander undergo anger management therapy. Xander agreed, but he asked for a legal separation.

Tate helped Rafe search warehouses near where Holly’s class ring had been found. Holly and Ari found an air duct, but Ari got stuck in it. Tate heard Ari screaming and he found the women. When Rafe arrived, he sent Tate and Holly out while he stayed behind to extract Ari from the wall. The duct work collapsed. Rafe pulled an unconscious Ari out, but she fully recovered.

Leo questioned Gwen about her involvement with Xander. When Gwen argued that Leo had hurt her more than Xander, Leo apologized again for having betrayed Gwen. Gwen softened, but she still maintained that she would never forgive Leo.

Leo worried about the start of Johnny’s trial and whether EJ would kill him if he voted to convict Johnny. In the square, EJ hinted at a bribe for Leo, but Leo refused. Leo told Javi about EJ’s offer. Javi told Leo he was proud of him.

Stephanie accepted EJ’s job offer to do PR for the hospital, despite Kayla’s objections. Kayla threatened to quit if EJ did not allow her to run the hospital freely. EJ ordered Kayla to make deeper cuts to the budget.

In order to throw Tate off the scent of the real story, Sophia told him that she had given birth to a girl. Sophia told Tate that she had already given the baby to its adoptive parents. Tate refused to sign the papers until he met the adoptive parents. Sophia convinced Tate that the parents were good people, and he reluctantly signed. Brady mentioned the birth of Tate’s daughter to Sarah. Although Sarah did not say anything to Brady, she remembered that Sophia had been pregnant with a boy.

Holly confronted Doug for having not warned her and Ari about the loan shark. Doug admitted to Holly that although he liked Ari, he had only dated her because he could not be with Holly. Doug told Holly that he was leaving town to keep everyone safe. Ari slapped Doug.

Gwen packed up her bags to move out of the Salem Inn, and she was horrified to find that Alice’s diamond necklace was not in the safe. Julie served papers on Gwen for a lawsuit over the necklace. Gwen accused Julie of using the lawsuit as a cover story for the theft of the necklace. When Julie returned home, Doug gave her the necklace. Julie promised not to tell Gwen that Doug had taken it. Julie told Doug III she would wire money to him to pay off his loan shark, because she wanted to protect him from danger. Julie gave her husband’s pocket watch to Doug. Doug promised to stay in touch and get his life together.

Marlena hypnotized EJ in an effort to recover EJ’s memories from the night of the shooting. When EJ could not remember, he grew frustrated. Marlena cautioned EJ not to jump to conclusions, and she urged him to undergo more hypnosis. EJ confided to Belle that he was worried that he could not remember because the shooter had been more traumatizing to him than the shooting.

Brady took Rachel to the DiMera mansion to retrieve some items, and she freaked out when she thought about the night of EJ’s shooting. Rachel told Brady that she was terrified that her testimony would send Johnny to prison. Johnny’s trial started, and Marlena passed out in the courtroom.

Paulina confessed to Abe that she was worried that she would make things worse for Johnny and Chanel at the trial. Johnny vowed to protect Chanel. Susan arrived in town to assist Johnny and Chanel in their search for EJ’s shooter. When Susan visited Marlena, she got a strange vibe from her old friend. Marlena dreamed of her Queen of the Night days.