Salem, a town perpetually teetering on the brink of chaos, just plunged headfirst into an abyss of legal nightmares and heartbreaking betrayals. Thursday, July 10, 2025, isn’t just another day in the lives of its residents; it’s a brutal turning point where the lines between justice and personal vendetta blur, trust shatters, and the past rises to exact its cruelest revenge. Prepare yourselves, because the fallout from these explosive events will reshape the very fabric of Salem as we know it.
The Ultimate Betrayal: EJ Destroys Chanel in Court!
The air in the courtroom hung thick with a palpable tension, as Johnny DiMera’s (Carson Boatman) fate in the attempted murder trial teetered on the brink. EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel), the very father who was shot and the alleged victim, was supposedly defending his own son. But beneath this facade of fatherly concern, a shocking act of betrayal was brewing, one that would utterly obliterate Johnny’s wife, Chanel (Raven Bowens).
Chanel, battling her own rising anxieties, desperately tried to reassure her husband, convinced of his innocence, completely oblivious to the catastrophic storm about to hit her. Paulina Price (Jackee Harry), caught between her duty as mayor and her love for her daughter, had warned Chanel against interference, clinging to the hope of a fair trial. But Paulina’s chilling premonition of EJ’s “dirty trick” exploded into a horrifying reality. As Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu) and Belle Black (Martha Madison) unveiled the shocking footage retrieved from a hidden memory card, Paulina watched, gasping in utter disbelief, almost collapsing in shock.
The horrifying video played out for all to see: a furious confrontation between Chanel and EJ on the very night he was shot. And then, like a dagger twisting in the heart of the courtroom, Chanel’s voice echoed, her words sealing her own tragic fate: “I’m not going to let you live long enough to hurt Johnny or anyone ever again!” This wasn’t just evidence against Johnny; this was a DAMNING confession from CHANEL HERSELF, instantly implicating her as the prime suspect and threatening to utterly demolish her life and marriage! This calculated, cold-blooded move by EJ has transformed a criminal case into a devastating personal tragedy, leaving Chanel facing an unimaginable future.
The Morning After: Xander’s Walk of Shame and Gwen’s Heartbreak
While the legal battle for Johnny and Chanel raged, a different kind of emotional fire ignited, then brutally extinguished, in the volatile relationship between Gwen Rizczech (Emily O’Brien) and Xander Cook Kiriakis (Paul Telfer). Gwen woke up in her Salem Inn bed with a hopeful smile, only for reality to crash down when she reached for Xander, and he was gone. Flashbacks flooded her mind: a “wild time” that almost happened, a night of raw passion, but Xander had abruptly stopped himself, abandoning her room in the dead of night.
Xander’s sudden retreat leaves Gwen reeling in bitter disappointment and anguish. He was truly “the one who got away,” and despite her recent entanglement with Dimitri, it was Xander who had initially shattered her heart. Her lifelong fear of losing him to his “true love,” Sarah, had, tragically, come true. Now, after a night fueled by shared pain, she’s left wondering if she’ll ever get a second chance. Although Xander had tenderly held her face the night before, showing a surprising compassion, his abrupt departure speaks volumes about his inner turmoil. Gwen’s lonely breakfast confirms her heartbreak and desperate introspection. What did she do wrong? What could she have done differently to secure the outcome her wounded soul craved? Passion led them to the brink, but regret and unseen barriers ultimately won, leaving Gwen alone with her shattered hopes.
The shame doesn’t just fall on Gwen. Xander’s own “walk of shame” begins as he stumbles into work, hungover and disheveled. He immediately runs into Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier), who wastes no time in twisting the knife. Philip seizes the opportunity to publicly condemn Xander, throwing his supposed “cheating on Sarah” in his face, a brutal reminder that Xander is “still a married man.” The tension between them, already razor-thin, escalates into a furious clash, exposing Xander’s hypocrisy and Philip’s enduring resentment.
A Brother’s Fury: JJ Returns to Reclaim Stolen Legacy
Gwen’s painful solitude is violently interrupted by an unexpected knock. Standing at her door is her half-brother, JJ Deveraux (Casey Moss), who returns to Salem not for a family reunion, but as a determined force of justice. Armed with his badge, JJ wastes no time in confronting Gwen about her destructive past, accusing her of “screwing up royally” with Jack and Abigail.
Gwen, always defiant, sneers at his accusations, questioning Jack’s care for her and JJ’s presence. But JJ’s mission is clear: he grabs the famed Alice Horton diamond necklace, declaring it “stolen property” and his intent to return it. Their heated exchange intensifies as Gwen brazenly challenges JJ for proof of ownership. When he falters, she snatches the necklace back, declaring, “If Julie wants her necklace so badly, she can sue me for it!” She then defiantly puts the priceless heirloom on, twisting the knife further with bitter words: “Because my dad started a family with my mother instead of yours.” This raw outburst exposes Gwen’s deep-seated abandonment issues and her vengeful jealousy. JJ, though pained, urges her to change, but Gwen clings to her material wealth, leaving JJ to wonder if she’ll ever truly seek the “family” she desperately lacks.
Ruthless Ambition: EJ’s Power Play and Tony’s Warning
Amidst the personal and legal turmoil, the cutthroat world of DiMera Enterprises continues its relentless grind. EJ (Dan Feuerriegel) meets with Tony (Thaao Penghlis), his mind fixed on reclaiming ultimate control of the family empire. EJ shockingly reveals his audacious game plan: he believes Johnny could be their “perfect secret weapon” to wield power at Titan-DiMera.
However, Tony, wary of the DiMera curse, urges caution. He warns EJ not to “risk sabotaging his fragile bond with Johnny.” The father-son relationship has only just begun to heal, and Tony believes that bond is far more precious than any corporate power play. But EJ’s ambition burns too bright, and his cold, calculating moves suggest he’s willing to sacrifice almost anything to achieve his goals, even if it means destroying those closest to him.
Salem is now a powder keg, ready to explode. Every character is entangled in a web of fateful decisions and unpredictable consequences. From Chanel’s devastating legal scandal and Xander’s public walk of shame, to JJ’s relentless pursuit of justice and EJ’s ruthless ambition, the tension is unbearable.
Which of these mind-blowing revelations shocked you the most, and how do you think it will forever change the landscape of Days of Our Lives?