DOOL SPOILERS: TONY PULLS RUG OUT FROM UNDER GABI—CEO DREAM DESTROYED

TL;DR: On October 14’s Days of Our Lives, Tony DiMera summons Gabi Hernandez to the DiMera mansion and brutally refuses to make her CEO of DiMera Enterprises, despite her successfully spying on Titan Industries and delivering the company back to the DiMera family through a sophisticated honeypot scheme involving both Xander Cook and Phillip Kiriakis.

The Setup Was PERFECT—Until It Wasn’t

Here’s the thing about Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez)—when this woman commits to a mission, she goes ALL IN. And boy, did she deliver for Tony DiMera (Thaao Penghlis)!

For months, Gabi executed what can only be described as a masterclass in corporate espionage. The honeypot scheme? Flawless. Kissing both Xander Cook and Phillip Kiriakis to exploit their rivalry and gain access to Titan Industries’ most sensitive information? Ruthless but effective. Gathering every piece of damaging intel Tony needed to force the Kiriakis family to return DiMera Enterprises?

Mission. Accomplished.

So naturally, when Tony summons Gabi to the DiMera mansion on October 14, she’s walking in expecting her coronation as CEO. The position was PROMISED to her. She earned it! She played corporate spy, risked her reputation, and delivered an entire company back to the DiMera family.

What could possibly go wrong?

Does Gabi Hernandez Become DiMera CEO?

No. Tony DiMera brutally denies Gabi Hernandez the CEO position she was explicitly promised, pulling the rug out from under her in a devastating betrayal.

The moment that’s been building for months finally arrives, and instead of handing Gabi the keys to the kingdom, Tony reveals his “true colors” and refuses to honor their deal. According to spoilers, this isn’t a gentle letdown or a “maybe later” conversation. This is a full-scale, cold-blooded betrayal that leaves Gabi reeling.

After everything she sacrificed—her dignity, her relationships, months of her life—Tony essentially tells her thanks for your service, but you’re not getting what you were promised.

The worst part? Spoilers describe Tony doing an evil laugh after denying her the position.

An EVIL LAUGH.

Since when does the suave, romantic Count Antony DiMera do theatrical villain laughs?!

Is Tony DiMera Actually André in Disguise?

The evidence is OVERWHELMING, and longtime DOOL fans are absolutely convinced: the man currently on screen is NOT Tony DiMera—it’s his supposedly deceased cousin André DiMera in disguise!

Let’s break down why this theory has gained so much traction:

The Ruthless Behavior: The real Tony has consistently been portrayed as the “good DiMera“—cultured, romantic, and generally resistant to the family’s legacy of corporate warfare. Since reuniting with his beloved wife Anna DiMera, Tony has actively distanced himself from the scheming and manipulation that defines the DiMera empire.

But this guy? Cold. Calculating. Hyper-focused on corporate power at ANY cost. That’s André’s entire personality!

That Chilling Dialogue: In conversations with Gabi about their strategy, “Tony” said something that sent alarm bells ringing for veteran viewers: “We don’t fight fire with fire. We fight fire with arson.”

READ THAT AGAIN.

That witty, menacing, theatrical turn of phrase is CLASSIC André DiMera dialogue! It’s the kind of over-the-top villainous statement that André would make while planning disproportionate and destructive retaliation. The real Tony’s wit is more droll, more refined—not violent and threatening.

Where Is Anna DiMera? This is perhaps the BIGGEST red flag in this entire storyline. Anna is the love of Tony’s life. It is narratively IMPOSSIBLE that he would undertake such a major endeavor in Salem without her by his side.

More importantly? Anna knows Tony intimately enough to immediately recognize an imposter. She’s the ONE person who could blow André’s cover instantly.

Her conspicuous absence screams one thing: she and the real Tony have been neutralized—probably imprisoned on some remote DiMera island hideaway (because of COURSE there’s always a remote island in this family!).

The Villain’s Flourish: That evil laugh we mentioned? Another classic André move. The theatrical, malevolent André would absolutely punctuate his betrayal with villainous stagecraft. The typically suave and reserved Tony? Not his style at all.

What Happens to Theo Carver?

According to spoilers, “Tony” has also offered a high-level position at the newly reclaimed DiMera Enterprises to his nephew Theo Carver.

On the surface, this looks like a sweet family gesture—bringing earnest, good-hearted Theo into the fold.

But if this IS André wearing Tony’s face? This move is far more sinister. André could be positioning Theo as a puppet CEO he can control from the shadows. Or worse—setting up the poor guy to take the legal and public fall for whatever illicit activities André plans to undertake to solidify his power.

Theo has always been too trusting, too genuine for the cutthroat world of DiMera corporate warfare. If André is manipulating him, this could end VERY badly for Theo.

Did Gabi Develop Real Feelings During Her Honeypot Scheme?

Here’s where things get REALLY complicated for Gabi!

While her seduction of Xander Cook was purely strategic and professional (she never wavered from the mission there), there’s persistent speculation that during her interactions with Phillip Kiriakis, something unexpected happened.

She might have caught actual feelings.

Think about it—Gabi spent weeks, possibly months, getting close to Phillip. Playing the role convincingly enough to gain his trust. That level of intimacy, even when fake, can blur lines. And Phillip has always had that dangerous charm…

If Gabi DID develop genuine romantic feelings for Phillip, her quest for revenge against the DiMeras just got exponentially more complicated. Her professional crusade could now be entangled with a new allegiance—and potential romance—with a member of the rival Kiriakis family.

Classic soap opera love triangle, set against a backdrop of corporate warfare!

Could this mean Gabi switches sides entirely? Don’t be surprised if her path to revenge involves teaming up with the Kiriakis family against the DiMeras. Nothing would infuriate “Tony” (or André, let’s be real) more than losing to BOTH rival families at once!

What’s Next for Gabi Hernandez and Tony DiMera?

Gabi’s response to this betrayal will be neither passive nor brief. This is a declaration of TOTAL WAR.

Given Gabi’s history of nuclear-level revenge plots (remember what she did to Abigail Deveraux?), “Tony” just made the biggest mistake of his life. Or afterlife. Depending on whether he’s actually André back from the dead.

Could this mean a DiMera civil war? Absolutely! EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) has already been suspicious of “Tony’s” sudden change in demeanor. If EJ discovers that an imposter is leading the family—or worse, that André has returned from the dead to usurp control—he’ll view this as an existential threat to his own power within the family.

Don’t be surprised if Gabi and EJ form an uneasy alliance. They have SERIOUS history—most of it contentious—but the “enemy of my enemy” principle is strong. Gabi wants revenge. EJ wants control. Together, they could dismantle everything “Tony” has built.

This likely leads to Gabi systematically using the intimate knowledge she gained while spying on Titan to cripple the newly reformed DiMera Enterprises from the outside. Corporate sabotage. Financial warfare. Public exposure of criminal activities. She has ALL the skills and ALL the motivation.

Given Gabi’s history of brilliantly destructive revenge schemes, her ultimate objective will become unmasking André (if that’s who this really is). This narrative path cleverly positions her not as a spurned villain, but as a wronged anti-heroine whose quest for personal revenge actually serves to restore the “legitimate” order to the DiMera family.

Which means fans will be ROOTING for her success!

The October 14 episode isn’t just a betrayal scene—it’s the opening salvo in what promises to be the biggest DiMera family war in YEARS. And Gabi Hernandez? She’s about to remind everyone in Salem why you should NEVER cross a woman who has nothing left to lose.

Catch all the must-know Days of Our Lives spoilers and updates here.