On Days of Our Lives, EJ DiMera receives the iconic Phoenix ring from Dr. Wilhelm Rolf, signaling his role as the new family patriarch following Stefano DiMera's death. This development comes amid EJ's personal struggles and hints at a darker turn, potentially involving Cat Greene as a key figure. The storyline unfolds during a family gathering to inter Stefano's ashes.
The latest episodes of Days of Our Lives depict EJ DiMera, played by Dan Feuerriegel, navigating a turbulent period from late 2025 into early 2026. EJ has faced multiple setbacks, including the loss of his relationship with Belle Black (Martha Madison) and rejection by his son Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman). The confirmation of Stefano DiMera's death, portrayed by Joseph Mascolo, through bones found in the crypt, adds to his distress. Neither Belle nor Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney) offers him reconciliation, and his daughter Sydney DiMera (Avery and Cade Seger) remains in Italy.
During a family ceremony to inter Stefano's ashes in the crypt, EJ joins Tony DiMera (Thaao Penghlis), Chad DiMera (Billy Flynn), Theo, and Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk). This marks their first return since Peter Blake (Jason Brooks) attempted to kill them with sarin gas, in a plot involving Vivian Alamain (Louise Sorel), though Dimitri von Leuschner DiMera (Peter Porte) takes responsibility.
Post-ceremony, Dr. Wilhelm Rolf (Richard Wharton) privately hands EJ the Phoenix ring, fulfilling Stefano's final directive and anointing him as head of the DiMera family. Tony has distanced himself from DiMera Enterprises, leaving interim CEO duties to Johnny, who plans to return to Titan after Theo's recovery from a head injury caused by Peter. Kristen feuds with EJ over an incident where Rachel Black (Alice Halsey) shot him, resulting in her commitment to Bayview.
Gwen Rizczech (Emily O’Brien) observes a change in EJ after he dons the ring. Meanwhile, Chad relocates to Arizona with Thomas DiMera (Christopher Cary) and Charlotte DiMera (Olivia & Oakley Rondou) to maintain custody, enforcing a 'no Cat' clause. EJ invites Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) to dinner on Valentine’s Day, following a prior close encounter after she drugged him. Susan Banks (Stacy Haiduk) warns EJ against Cat, suspecting her motives.
Cat, secretly working for the ISA in an investigation with Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering), had snooped in the DiMera mansion and attempted to access a secret lab via her brother Mark Greene (Jonah Robinson). An upcoming kiss between EJ and Cat suggests escalating tension, echoing Stefano's past obsession with Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) as his 'Queen of the Night.' EJ's history includes manipulative pursuits, such as blackmailing Sami to save Lucas Horton (Bryan Dattilo) and deceiving Nicole Walker (Arianne Zucker) about baby Jude's paternity with Eric Brady (Greg Vaughan).