The Young and the Restless Recap, January 6: Nick hospitalized as Matt escapes to continue his revenge

The Young and the Restless recap for January 6, 2026, told the story of a high-stakes car crash that left Nick Newman’s life in danger. Matt was officially on the loose again and more desperate than ever. While Noah and Sienna braced for the fallout, Phyllis was busy continuing a calculated move that could change everything for Summer.

What happened on The Young and the Restless

At the Genoa City Athletic Club, Phyllis accused Michael of sending her to voicemail, but continued to leave a message. She asked him to call her back, considering they had mended their ongoing rift. Daniel appeared next to Phyllis and asked his mother why Michael would send her to voicemail.

Daniel wanted to check in with Phyllis, and she asked how his New Year's Eve was. He told her that his night was fine, and she wondered why he didn't reach out to her to spend it together. Phyllis noticed that something was different with her son and that he had a lighter vibe to him.

Daniel accused Phyllis of fishing for information about his personal life. However, she promised that she was just concerned because of where he was the prior year. Last year at this time, he was freshly grieving Heather. Daniel wasn't sure if he was capable of moving forward after her mother, but something had shifted for their family. He finally had a chance at happiness.

Phyllis agreed that Heather would want him to be happy, but she needed to know if Tessa was responsible for this shift in attitude. Daniel remarked that he never mentioned Tessa, so she was jumping to conclusions. Phyllis brought up how she witnessed Daniel and Tessa kissing, and she was worried that he was heading toward danger.

Daniel vowed that he wouldn't crash and burn. Phyllis heard him, but she pointed out that Tessa was still a married woman. She was pleased that Tessa made her son happy, but that didn't change that it concerned her. Phyllis worried that Daniel's heart was vulnerable and could be subject to pain and suffering.

Daniel asked Phyllis what her current scheme was. He assumed it was about the AI program, and she ordered him to get off her back. Phyllis was finished dealing with people questioning her motives. Daniel asked her why she got so defensive, and he waited until she finally came clean.

Phyllis agreed to give Daniel some insight into what she had planned. She confessed that Billy and Jack came to her, wanting to use her skill set to retrieve the AI program from Victor. Daniel knew his mother would never do anything unless she benefited, so he asked for further details.

Daniel didn't understand why Phyllis would team up with two men whom she didn't trust. Things weren't adding up, so she ultimately divulged that she asked them to hand over Marchetti to Summer. She asked if that was selfless enough for his liking. Daniel apologized for thinking the worst of Phyllis, calling this one of the most unselfish things she had ever done.

Phyllis told Daniel that he and Summer were her number one priority over everything else. Summer was the happiest she'd ever been, and she thrived as the head of Marchetti. Although Phyllis wanted to build an empire with Daniel in Genoa City, she wanted nothing to do with it. Securing control of Marchetti could be the thing that brings Phyllis and her children, or even her grandchildren, together.

Summer was unaware of what her mother was cooking up. Daniel brought the conversation back to the voicemail, wondering why she wouldn't tell him who she left the message for. He reminded Phyllis that nobody in town trusted her, and for good reason.

Daniel loved that his mother was thinking of Summer in this way. Still, something about it gave him pause. Daniel asked Phyllis not to blow up this golden opportunity for their family. He suggested that she stop the games and schemes, and perhaps if she did, things could turn out differently for her.

Phyllis craved respect from everyone in town, but Daniel told her that people didn't always get what they wanted. He desperately wanted Heather to still be alive, and that his family would be back tougher, but no amount of wishing would bring her back.

Daniel used that to snap Phyllis back into reality and insist that she live in the present. Daniel wanted Phyllis to stop manipulating the situation with Billy and Jack to benefit herself. If she moved in truth and honesty, people wouldn't view her as a snake. Phyllis responded that life didn't work that way.

At Victor's house, Victoria stopped by to visit her father, much to his surprise. It was late, but there were several work matters that needed to be discussed. She noticed he was distracted and asked if it had anything to do with Noah's ongoing issues.

Victor explained that the nightmare with Matt was coming to an end, and he was awaiting word from Nick. He confirmed to Victoria that Matt had been captured and Sienna had been returned safe and sound. Victoria asked if the police had Matt in custody, but Nick was the one driving him there.

Nikki entered the room, furious that Nick took matters into his own hands with Matt. She knew how dangerous Matt was, so she didn't think it was safe. Victor assured both women that Nick knew how to handle someone as volatile as Matt.

This time, Nikki needed the truth up front, and she wanted no detail spared. Victor refused to be forthcoming, and he told them both that he knew how to protect his family. They refused to accept his vague answer and demanded to know the truth.

Elsewhere, Matt managed to get Nick to crash the car, putting both of their lives in grave danger. Nick appeared to be injured at the wheel, but it wasn't long until he came to. His first instinct was to reach for his phone and call Victor. Nick could barely speak, but he managed to tell them there was a car crash that led to Matt's escape.

Some time passed, and Nick awoke again, this time at the hospital surrounded by Nikki, Victoria, Noah, and Sharon. Doctors were concerned about Nick's leg injury, with surgery on the table as an option. After the doctor left, Nick walked his family through how Matt managed to make him lose control of the car and escape.

Everyone was just happy that Nick survived the crash and alerted Victor of the incident. Noah apologized to his father for setting the events in motion, but Nick's only focus was to find Matt and having him brought him to justice. Nobody was safe with Matt walking around as a free man.

Victor had urged Nick not to follow through with his plan to bring Matt into the police station himself, but he was adamant. The conversation was cut short as Nick was hauled away for further testing about his leg injury.

Noah panicked when he couldn't get through to Sienna, but his family pleaded with him to stay put to avoid being captured by Matt. Noah reminded everyone how ruthless Matt was when he felt backed into a corner. His sole purpose in life had become revenge, and he wasn't above killing Sienna.

The doctor returned and told the family that Nick had a fractured fibula and was in need of a lengthy surgery. With Victoria, Sharon, and Nikki distracted, Noah slipped out of the hospital room to ensure Sienna's safety.

Elsewhere at Sharon's house, Sienna told herself that she was safe, stable, and grounded, and told herself that Sharon and Noah would soon return. She said that Matt wouldn't be able to harm her and looked at various family photos, namely, Noah's.

However, a loud knock at the door spooked Sienna, potentially confirming her greatest fears. Instead of Matt, it was Tessa, and the two appeared to have a prior connection as they instantly called each other by name. Sienna called Tessa a blast from the past, and it had been several years since they had last seen each other.

They reminisced about their past together at the clubs, and she praised Tessa for her successful singing career. Sienna told Tessa that she and Tanner were great together as a singing duo, and they captivated audiences. She asked about their brief reunion tour, despite their personal lives taking two different directions.

Tessa asked if Sienna was still in Los Angeles, which she confirmed, but it was in a much different capacity. Sienna asked Tessa if she lived in Genoa City, and she confirmed that she did. However, Tessa was the more confused person, asking Sienna why she was in Genoa City, at Sharon's, of all places.

Sienna explained that she and Noah had gotten close, and Tessa was intrigued, wanting details. She heard about Noah's accident, but the pieces weren't fully putting tougher. Sienna asked how Tessa knew Noah, unaware that she was much closer to the situation than she would ever guess possible.

Tessa gave Sienna the full scoop about her connection to Sharon, revealing that she was married to Sharon's daughter, Mariah, making her Noah's sister-in-law. Tessa was excited to tell Sienna about Aria, which brought some light to Sienna's dark day. Sienna, unaware of the ongoing issues between Tessa and Mariah, remarked that it was good to see that some marriages could work.

Sienna filled in Tessa about her own life and relegated her marriage to collateral damage in Matt's revenge plot against the Newman family. Tessa didn't know who Matt was, and was alarmed to hear that Sienna was married to a monster. Sienna told Tessa everything about the affair, how Matt tried to claim Noah's life, and the entire revenge plot against the Newman family.

It was a lot for Tessa to take in, but she offered her sympathies for how much they had endured. She also reflected on how much Sharon had been through over the last few years.

Noah raced into the house, frantic that he hadn't heard from Sienna. He shook from the adrenaline rush of believing Matt had gotten to her. However, his attention quickly shifted to Tessa, and the two shared an awkward reunion. Tessa and Sienna revealed that they knew each other from the past in Los Angeles. Noah was surprised at how small a world it was.

However, Sienna asked about why Noah was so on edge when he first arrived. He explained everything about Nick's accident and told her that with Matt on the loose, they needed to play things safe to avoid falling victim to him again.

As the episode ended, a battered and bloodied Matt was on the ground, and a figure approached him, signaling the battle was far from over.

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