Best and Worst of RAW after Backlash 2023: New storyline begins after over 1 year, lazy title feud booked for Night of Champions?

Welcome to the best and worst of RAW after Backlash 2023. It was an interesting episode that was action-packed from start to finish. While there were admittedly a few hiccups, the fact that the episode centered around the World Heavyweight title tournament made for an interesting direction.

There was a steady flow to the show, and it hardly felt disrupted - even in the segments that didn't involve the World Heavyweight title.

It was a good episode, and with less than 20 days until Night of Champions, there was a lot of hype built for the show as well as SmackDown this Friday.

Let's jump right into the ups and downs of what we felt was a happening episode of RAW:

#3. Best: New beginnings for Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn on RAW?

"We'll see you in the ring tonight." - Zayn

"What do you think of that Turtleneck?"- Owens

@SamiZayn @FightOwensFight #WWERaw https://t.co/ryx1XspSDT

It seems like, after a year of Sami Zayn's involvement with The Bloodline, the time to finish the story has come. We hope that Backlash was the conclusion of it, and based on the interaction on RAW, there could be a new plan in place.

Imperium's Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser were backstage announcing Gunther's arrival to the red brand for next week. They interrupted Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn's conversation, and the champions simply told them to wait for five minutes.

They didn't do that, and instead, it set up a match and seemingly teased a new feud as well. KO and Zayn defeated the two Imperium sidekicks, but could a story with The Ring General be awaiting?

#2. Worst: Natalya as Rhea Ripley's next challenger

.@NatbyNature IS BACK! 👀 #WWERaw https://t.co/6fMVlowz6D

Rhea Ripley squashed Dana Brooke on this week's RAW and launched a post-match attack - only to be interrupted by Natalya. We can't say that Natalya made the save because she was in high heels and walked to the ring with no urgency while her friend was getting beaten up.

It looked so awkward that even Corey Graves was forced to call her out on it. Natalya vs. Rhea Ripley seems to be the direction for Night of Champions, and it is admittedly underwhelming and arguably even lazy booking.

Everybody knows it's a filler feud, which is perhaps why the WWE Twitterverse didn't react too kindly to it.

#2. Best: Becky Lynch's return

.@BeckyLynchWWE is BACK with a 🔥 message for @trishstratuscom on #WWERaw! https://t.co/tFaQCVM6gM

Trish Stratus mocked Becky Lynch with her missing posters and then roasted her daughter on RAW. While she first pranked the WWE Universe by playing Becky's music, it turned out to be a ruse.

However, when the music hit for the second time, she thought it was a miscue, only for Becky Lynch to return after one month away.

It was a good segment that would set up their next match at Night of Champions, and we're looking forward to seeing how it goes.

#1. Worst: Brock Lesnar's promo

BROCK LESNAR IS HERE! And he’s taken out @CodyRhodes! #WWERaw https://t.co/sdrX5MZq8b

Brock Lesnar interrupted in the first round of the Triple Threat match between Finn Balor, The Miz, and Cody Rhodes. While The American Nightmare seemed all but certain to qualify for the semi-finals of the World title tournament after hitting the Cross-Rhodes thrice on The Miz, Lesnar dragged him out and hit him with the F-5.

He issued a challenge for Night of Champions, but his promo was horrible. He upped his promo game while being a babyface, but this one was just awful.

Cody eventually accepted the challenge, and the rematch will happen in Saudi Arabia. We think that it was a good idea to not have Cody win the World title and make him wait for longer.

#1. Best: Seth Rollins, the new favorite to become World Heavyweight Champion

THIS CLOSE.
#WWERaw #WWE https://t.co/X3qERrjsML

Seth Rollins, on the other hand, had a better night on RAW. He first crossed paths with Cody Rhodes when entering his first-round match and won it before beating Finn Balor in the finals.

While we have some incredible options like Edge, Rey Mysterio, AJ Styles, and Bobby Lashley on the SmackDown side, nobody deserves to be the inaugural champion more than Seth Rollins does.

What a performance from him on RAW, and we hope that he is the one to become the World Champion after nearly four years.