The promo for Days of Our Lives has set off a frenzy among fans with a question at its center: Did Mason steal EJ DiMera’s Stefano ring? The preview for the week of September 7 through September 11 teases a mystery man wearing the exact ring EJ lost. The iconic piece, a symbol of the DiMera family’s dark legacy, has been at the center of mounting speculation since EJ admitted he left it on a coffee table at the mansion. EJ is said to be in a complete panic over the disappearance.
The loss comes at a particularly stressful time, as he has recently lost control of the hospital to Gwen, seen his pharmaceutical empire slip, and faced fallout from his feud with Kristen. Fans have questioned how the man aiming to become the new Stefano could be so careless with the family’s most important artifact. The promo shows only a man’s hand wearing the ring, a classic soap opera tease that has not revealed the owner’s face. That has not stopped viewers from building theories online, and the Mason theory has emerged as a leading one.
The key development, according to the source, is that Rita Leslie, a longtime DiMera fixer who worked for Stefano and had been helping EJ clean up his messes, is shown pocketing the ring. That act has led to speculation that she is secretly working with Mason, suggesting a major betrayal of EJ. If Mason is behind the theft, it would represent a direct power play. The ring is described not just as jewelry but as a crown carrying the weight of the Phoenix, and someone wearing it would be making a statement about who is truly in control of the DiMera family.
A confrontation between EJ and Mason is widely expected if the theory holds. EJ has already grown increasingly volatile, having recently gotten into a physical altercation with Abe over Lexie’s failing health and having Kristen kidnapped. Fans expect he would react with rage upon discovering Mason with the ring. Theories also suggest the pair may be planning something larger.
Rita reportedly knows EJ’s darkest secrets, including details about cover-ups and the Corrasil pill scandal involving arsenic buried on Smith Island. If she is feeding that information to Mason, it could leave EJ completely trapped. There are also questions about what this means for Chad DiMera, who is back in town and already at odds with EJ. Chad has been focused on the Stefano chess set clues and deeply disapproves of how EJ handled Lexie’s medical crisis.
The news of the lost ring would likely reinforce Chad’s belief that EJ is unfit to lead the family. Cat Green, whom EJ currently trusts despite being a secret ISA agent, could also be dragged into the conflict. If EJ asks her to investigate Mason or retrieve the ring, it would put her in a difficult position given her hidden role. Some fans have suggested the mystery man wearing the ring could be someone else entirely, including a legacy character returning to the show.
But the Mason theory remains the most popular, with the idea of a Rita-Mason alliance gaining traction across fan discussions. As the storyline approaches the week of September 7, viewers are waiting to see whose hand appears in the promo. The central tension revolves around whether EJ will get the ring back or whether Mason will use it to dismantle his authority in Salem. The outcome remains unresolved, but the fallout is expected to be significant.
EJ’s arrogance has been met with repeated setbacks, and the stolen ring appears to be the latest consequence of his reckless handling of the family’s most powerful symbol.
