Salem is buzzing with life, but all eyes are on the hospital where a long-anticipated moment is about to unfold. EJ DiMera, who’s been lying unconscious for weeks after being shot, finally stirs—his awakening is bound to change everything.

In a quiet hospital room bathed in morning light, Dr. Kayla Johnson watches over EJ, hopeful yet cautious. She’s begun the delicate process of reducing his sedatives, having already warned Susan Banks that waking from a medically induced coma can take time. Susan, overwhelmed by motherly love and fear, whispers encouragement to her unconscious son. The tension is thick as seconds feel like hours… until EJ’s eyelids flutter.

When EJ opens his eyes and whispers hoarsely, “Where… where am I?”, Susan gasps, overjoyed. The prodigal DiMera heir is back—but is he the same man? Kayla steps in immediately to assess him, asking if he remembers who shot him. EJ tries to recall the blurry fragments—there’s a gun, a shadowy figure—but no clear answer. Belle Black arrives just in time to catch EJ’s uncertain memory. As she exchanges a worried glance with Kayla, it’s clear that EJ’s return is only the beginning of a much deeper mystery.

Elsewhere in Salem, the news of EJ’s awakening hits Johnny DiMera like a lightning bolt. At first, he feels a mix of relief and dread. His father may have survived, but that doesn’t erase the years of conflict or the recent bombshell Johnny uncovered about his conception—learning he was brought into the world not out of love, but to salvage a failing marriage.

Chanel Dupree tries to be the voice of reason, gently urging Johnny to talk to EJ and get the truth. But Johnny’s emotions are a tangled mess. Confrontation may be unavoidable, and when father and son finally come face-to-face, the hospital room may witness more than just recovery—it could see fireworks.

Meanwhile, an unexpected reunion unfolds in Horton Square. Cat Green, determined and unapologetic, approaches Gabby Hernandez. Their last meeting was explosive, marred by Cat’s impersonation of Abigail DiMera—a deception Gabby saw through with uncanny precision.

Now, Cat wants to make peace—or at least broker a new kind of partnership. Gabby, never one to trust easily, is skeptical. But Cat makes her case: Salem isn’t easy on ambitious women, and they’ve both been burned before. Why not work together instead of tearing each other down? Gabby listens, intrigued. Could this be the beginning of a formidable alliance, or just another powder keg waiting to explode?

On the younger front, romance and real-life decisions take center stage for Tate Black and Sophia Choi. The teens are growing closer, bonding not just over hormones but over something far more serious—the child they’re expecting.

With Tate and Holly Jonas now officially broken up, Sophia and Tate find more time to connect. They’ve long believed that Johnny and Chanel would make the perfect adoptive parents for their baby. But something shifts when Chanel excitedly announces that she and Johnny are ready to adopt. Sophia doesn’t match the excitement—her glance toward Tate is loaded with hesitation.

Has something changed? Are Sophia and Tate rethinking their decision? Could they now be considering keeping the baby themselves? As the bond between them deepens, their shared future grows more uncertain—and more emotional.

Back at the hospital, the drama doesn’t stop with EJ’s recovery. Chad DiMera finds himself watching a tender moment between Cat, Thomas, and Charlotte. It briefly warms his heart, a reminder of what he once had. But later in the week, Chad is struck by the painful realization that he’s still not ready to move on from Abigail.

His hesitation echoes the heartbreak he experienced with Stephanie Johnson not long ago. And with actor Billy Flynn taking on new opportunities over at The Young and the Restless, Chad’s emotional distance might mark the beginning of his exit from Salem.

Still, amid all the drama, there’s a glimmer of joy on the horizon. Cat and Chad team up to co-host a hospital fundraiser—a bachelor and bachelorette auction that turns out to be a smashing success. One standout moment? Gabby places a $10,000 bid on Alex Kiriakis, drawing some jealous glances from JJ Deveraux.

The event not only brings some lighthearted relief but also cements the growing connection between Chad and Cat. Their bond is genuine, even if complicated by past pain and unresolved feelings.

And finally, in a twist that no one expected, EJ’s personality seems… different. Kristen DiMera notices it first—he’s less arrogant, more reflective. Has the coma humbled him? Or is this a temporary façade hiding a darker intent? Either way, EJ’s return is bound to shake up Salem, and no one is safe from the ripples.

As we look ahead to the rest of the week, more stories unravel: Belle Black and Philip Kiriakis make a heartfelt promise, Maggie Horton pushes Xander to show compassion, and Rafe and Jada face an emotional turning point. Plus, Shawn Brady receives long-awaited news about Bo.

But for now, all eyes are on EJ DiMera—the man who just woke up from the brink of death. Will he seek justice, redemption, or revenge? One thing’s for certain: Salem will never be the same.