Salem has always been a town where the dead rarely stay buried, secrets refuse to stay silent, and villains never truly disappear. But as 2026 looms on the horizon, Days of Our Lives fans find themselves gripped by one burning, electrifying question: are Clyde Weston and Abigail Deveraux really coming back?

If the clues scattered across recent storylines are any indication, the answer may be far more explosive than anyone is prepared for.

For months, the fandom has buzzed with speculation, dissecting every lingering glance, every unresolved plot thread, every ominous pause that suggests unfinished business. And at the center of it all is one of Salem’s most terrifying villains—and one of its most beloved heroines.

Clyde Weston: A Villain Who Refuses to Stay Gone

To understand why Clyde Weston’s possible return feels so seismic, you have to understand who Clyde is. Introduced in 2014 and portrayed with chilling charisma by James Read, Clyde wasn’t just another bad guy. He was a predator. A manipulator. A man whose cruelty seeped into every corner of Salem he touched.

As an abusive father to Ben and Jordan Weston, a ruthless drug lord who crossed paths with Victor Kiriakis and EJ DiMera, and a master blackmailer who thrived on fear, Clyde left scars that never healed. James Read infused the character with a Southern charm that made Clyde all the more disturbing—smooth on the surface, monstrous underneath.

And then came the crime that cemented Clyde’s legacy as one of Days of Our Lives’ most hated villains: the brutal murder of Abigail Deveraux.

Abigail’s Death — And the Mystery That Never Died

Abigail’s stabbing in 2020 shattered Salem. A devoted mother, a woman who fought mental health struggles with honesty and courage, Abigail was the emotional anchor of the Deveraux family and the beating heart of the iconic “Chabby” love story.

Chad DiMera’s grief became one of the show’s most devastating arcs—Billy Flynn delivering raw, unfiltered pain as a widower raising two children while drowning in unanswered questions. For years, viewers were told Abigail was gone. Case closed.

Except… it never felt closed.

An empty coffin. A grainy video of a mysterious blonde woman. A fake Abigail revealed to be Cat Greene, forced into impersonation under Clyde’s threats. Each revelation reopened wounds and reignited hope that Abigail might still be alive.

And just when Clyde was on the brink of revealing the truth, everything changed.

The Shooting That Changed Everything

December 11, 2024, delivered one of the most jaw-dropping moments in recent Days history. Chad cornered Clyde, gun drawn, demanding answers about Abigail. Years of rage and heartbreak boiled over as Clyde toyed with him—hinting that Abigail’s fate was far more complicated than anyone knew.

Then came the gunshot.

Katherina Greene, Cat’s mother, burst onto the scene and fired a single bullet into Clyde’s chest. It was an act fueled by desperation, fury, and maternal love—an attempt to end the nightmare Clyde had inflicted on her family.

Clyde collapsed. Blood pooled. Secrets died with him… or so it seemed.

The Coma: Salem’s Most Dangerous Limbo

Clyde didn’t die.

He survived surgery and slipped into a coma, tethered to machines at University Hospital. In Salem, a coma is never just a medical condition—it’s a narrative promise. A holding pattern. A ticking time bomb.

Soap fans know this trope well. Stefano DiMera made an art form out of returning from the dead. EJ DiMera cheated death more times than anyone can count. And Clyde Weston’s coma feels eerily familiar—a pause, not an ending.

As long as Clyde breathes, the truth about Abigail remains trapped behind his lips.

James Read’s Words Fuel the Fire

Off-screen, James Read has only intensified speculation. In interviews following his exit, he expressed deep gratitude for his decade-long run as Clyde, calling the role one of the most exhilarating of his career. But then came the line that set fandoms ablaze:

“Only the soap gods know if it’s meant to continue.”

He didn’t sound finished. He sounded… patient.

In Days of Our Lives language, that’s practically a confirmation.

Abigail Deveraux: Gone… or Waiting to Be Found?

If Clyde returns, the implications are enormous—because his survival almost guarantees one thing: Abigail’s story isn’t over.

What if Clyde faked her death as part of a long-term revenge plot? What if she’s alive somewhere, her memory erased, her identity stolen, hidden until the perfect moment? The show has laid too much groundwork for this mystery to simply vanish.

A revived Clyde could hold the key—forcing Chad into an impossible bargain: justice or the truth about his wife.

Imagine Chad standing at Clyde’s hospital bed as his eyes finally open. Years of pain boiling into one question: “Tell me about Abigail.” And Clyde, weak but wicked, smiling through the oxygen mask.

“She’s alive… but you’ll never find her without me.”

That’s Days of Our Lives at its most devastating—and most irresistible.

Ripple Effects Across Salem

Clyde’s return wouldn’t just impact Chad. It would send shockwaves through Salem’s most powerful families.

• Jack and Jennifer Deveraux, already broken by grief, would refuse to stop searching.
• JJ Deveraux, who rushed into the chaos after the shooting, would be pulled back into a nightmare he thought was over.
• Cat Greene, haunted by the deception she was forced into, would face the consequences of her mother’s violent act.
• The DiMeras, especially EJ and Kristen, would see Clyde as either a weapon or a liability—and move accordingly.
• Ben Weston, Clyde’s son, could be forced into a reckoning that has been years in the making.

Every storyline connects. Every secret feeds another explosion.

A Legacy of Resurrections — And a Storm Ahead

Days of Our Lives has never pretended to be grounded in realism. It thrives on the impossible, the emotional, the operatic. Clyde’s potential return fits perfectly into that tradition—not as shock value, but as a catalyst for long-delayed truths.

Whether through experimental treatments, Dr. Rolf’s infamous serums, or sheer soap logic, Clyde’s awakening feels less like an “if” and more like a “when.”

And when it happens, Salem will never be the same.

Because some villains don’t just haunt the past.

They wait.

And when they return, they bring the truth with them.