Days of our Lives Recap, June 26, 2025: Gabi rats out Johnny for EJ's shooting

Here is your Days of our Lives recap for Thursday, June 26, 2025.

What happened on Days of our Lives

Gabi couldn't wait to call Rafe on Days of our Lives | Image: Peacock

Xander told Sarah that he was glad to run into her in Horton Town Square. He wanted to see Victoria and noted that Melinda told him he had just as much right to be with the little girl as Sarah did. Sarah was surprised to hear that Xander was going for full custody.

"You can yell all you want, but there isn't a judge alive who would let you have full custody," Sarah warned. Xander cryptically told Sarah he was ready to bring out the big guns. When Sarah asked what that meant, Xander replied: "Let's hope you don't have to find out."

"I see you're up to your old tricks. You don't get exactly what you want, so you bully people into submission," Sarah said. Xander pointed out that he had asked for shared custody, but Sarah refused, so he felt he had no choice. They both admitted that their lawyers said that joint custody would be the best they would get.

Xander told Sarah that he was ready for a fight to the death anyway, and Sarah wondered if he meant that literally. Xander insisted he would never physically harm Sarah and reiterated that Philip told the authorities Xander didn't beat him. "We both know that's a lie," Sarah said.

Xander reminded Sarah how she lied to him for months, so Sarah blew up. "For the last time, I was doing what I thought was best for everyone," she shouted. As Xander yelled that Sarah was a hypocrite, Maggie and Julie appeared. "Xander, stay the heck away from my daughter," Maggie demanded.

Julie tried to play mediator. Since Xander had been cleared, she thought that the marriage could get back on track, but Xander noted that there were more issues, and Sarah agreed. "The truth is, Xander and I both feel that the trust between us has been destroyed," Sarah said.

When Sarah stormed off, Xander had the nerve to ask them if he could count on their hospital board votes now that he had been exonerated. He also reminded Maggie that Titan-DiMera would take a hit if he didn't buy the hospital. Maggie said there were more important things than money. Neither woman would tell them who they planned to vote for.

Brady returned home to find Belle getting rid of dead flowers so they didn't make Marlena even sadder than she already was. They were glad that the wedding helped raise everyone's spirits, including Rachel's.

Belle was surprised when Brady told her that Rachel Blake had been found and Kristen was busy getting her settled into Aremid. "EJ agreed to free her from wherever she was stashed, but not before he got his pound of flesh," Brady said.

Roman and Marlena continued to discuss EJ's shooting with Johnny. They deduced that someone had to have used Roman's gun, but it wasn't Johnny. Roman wanted to figure out their next move since too many people saw Johnny at the DiMera mansion that fateful night.

When Johnny had to leave for a meeting, Roman promised him he would formulate a plan. Roman told Marlena that they needed to figure out how Johnny could come forward without getting into legal trouble. Marlena knew that John would have been a big help in this situation, but she also knew he'd want them to carry on without him.

Marlena was worried about Johnny, but Roman assured her that Johnny would be okay. Just then, Kate appeared, so Roman told her that Marlena knew Johnny had taken his gun the night that EJ was shot. Roman assured Kate that Johnny didn't pull the trigger, but they had to figure out who did.

After Marlena left, she ran into Brady outside the pub. "I was about to call you. About Rachel and what she knows about Johnny," Marlena told a stunned Brady. When Marlena realized Brady already knew, Brady had to explain himself. "Kristen and I decided that the fewer people who knew, the better," he said.

"Well, it's not a few anymore. It's you, Kristen, Rachel, me. Roman knows. Kate knows. Who else?" Marlena asked. Brady informed Marlena that EJ knew. "Wait, are you saying that EJ thinks that Johnny shot him?" Marlena wondered. Brady explained what EJ remembered, but Marlena said that Johnny claimed he didn't shoot EJ.

Marlena felt that EJ deserved to know the truth. "We can't let him go on believing that his own son tried to kill him," Marlena said. Brady agreed it would be a relief for Rachel, as well. "We should all be careful not to say what we know yet," Marlena noted.

Just then, Sarah appeared with Victoria in the stroller. Brady offered to buy Sarah lunch, so she took him up on it. Sarah asked to have a moment alone with Marlena first so they could discuss her blood work. Everything came back fine, but Sarah advised Marlena to stay nourished and hydrated.

When Sarah walked into the pub, she sat down with Brady, who had already ordered fruit for Victoria. Sarah was glad to hear that Rachel was feeling better after a sleepover with Marlena. Sarah admitted that she still sometimes thought of Rachel as a daughter, after raising her during Rachel's first year of life.

Sarah was glad that Rachel was too young to remember the baby switch, but Brady apologized for never telling Rachel the truth. Sarah didn't think it was necessary.

When Xander walked in, Sarah asked if he was stalking her. Brady got up for a moment, so Xander reminded Sarah that it was a public place, so nothing would happen if he saw his daughter. Sarah watched and smiled as Xander played with Victoria.

Johnny arrived for his meeting with Gabi about Gabi Chic's new marketing campaign, but Gabi told him the meeting was canceled. Johnny didn't care. "If I could make time, you could make time," Johnny said. Gabi was surprised by Johnny's take-charge attitude. "I thought we were friends," she said.

Johnny admitted he was being harsh, but didn't want to blow his first big assignment for Titan-DiMera. Gabi agreed to the meeting, but they both realized that the company was in financial trouble as they tried to figure out how to market with almost no budget. Johnny suggested that Gabi be their model.

Gabi was surprised that Johnny knew about her modeling days way back when. Johnny admitted he had done some research when he was assigned to work with her. Gabi was hesitant, but Johnny finally talked her into it. Gabi and Johnny saw that they worked well together.

Johnny soon came up with a slogan: "This Christmas, wrangle yourself up some Gabi Chic. It's what you deserve." As soon as Johnny said it out loud, Gabi remembered hearing Johnny say that as she lurked outside the DiMera mansion the night EJ was shot. When Johnny left her office, Gabi quickly called Rafe and told her what she knew.

A furious EJ stood in his living room arguing with Kayla on the phone. He couldn't believe the hospital board wanted to vote again now that Xander had been exonerated. Kayla hung up on him, so EJ tried to distract himself until Belle appeared.

EJ was happy to see her until she told him why she was there. "Brady just told me that Kristen's mother was miraculously found, and I'd like to know about your role in that," she said. EJ asked that their conversation remain off the record. Belle agreed, so EJ told her that since Kristen got Brady to give him his hospital board vote, he used all his resources to track down Rachel Blake.

"Hmm, I'm not sure that's the whole truth," Belle said. "It's close enough," EJ quipped. They then entered into an argument over Belle dropping the charges against Xander, leading EJ to have to endure another board vote. Belle said she still felt Xander was guilty, but since Philip insisted Xander didn't beat him, Belle had no choice but to let him go.

EJ wondered why Philip would cover for Xander, but Belle refused to tell EJ her theory. EJ decided that they should just head upstairs for some fun, but Belle wanted to talk about the camera EJ had found. "The cops know about it, and they know the memory card is missing," Belle told an alarmed EJ. He lied and said the memory card seemed to be gone for good.