Randy Orton’s Legacy Faction Was A Huge Missed Opportunity In WWE

In 2008, the genesis of The Legacy began in WWE, with Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase seeking to gain the respect of Randy Orton to strike up an alliance. Other members such as Manu and Sim Snuka were briefly acquainted, but it was mostly the trio who were the figureheads of the group. With three recognizable family lineages, with a mixture of experience and potential, The Legacy was a unique faction who should’ve been so much bigger than they were and should’ve benefitted the three involved so much more than it did.

The Legacy Got Off To A Good Start As A Group

The idea behind a wrestling group holding multi-generational talents, brought together by their ancestry and blood which runs through the history of the business is a wonderful concept. It started off well too, with Rhodes and DiBiase already establishing themselves as World Tag Team Champions in their team of Priceless, before aligning with Orton. The three men together had a good image, with Rhodes and DiBiase looking primed to be elevated to the top echelons of WWE at some point.

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At the start of 2009, with Orton engaging in a feud with the McMahon Family, The Legacy played a big role. All three men had the honor of making it to the final four of the Royal Rumble, in addition to sharing the ring with names such as Triple H, Shane McMahon, and Batista over the next few months, with Orton eventually becoming WWE Champion at the Backlash PPV, in a six-man tag team match involving all of The Legacy.

At times throughout that summer, the group would be tried and tested through many bouts of tension. This was due to the Raw Guest Host period of the show, where each Monday Night, a new, random name would be in charge of the show, whether it be celebrities, active wrestlers, or wrestling legends. One of the earlier hosts was ‘The Million Dollar Man’ Ted DiBiase, who would cause a rift by booking Orton and his son to face each other. When it was Dusty Rhodes’ turn to host, Orton RKO’d the Hall of Famer but forced his son to fall in line by his side regardless. All these points of tension were naturally built and laid a good foundation for an eventual breakup.

Rhodes & DiBiase Should’ve Been Stars, Especially After The Legacy Ended

With Orton preoccupied with the WWE Championship, Rhodes & DiBiase feuded with DX. Though they lost an initial match at Summerslam, they would submit Shawn Michaels at Breaking Point, which should’ve been a huge bragging right to take forwards. However, they would then be defeated inside Hell in a Cell. This wasn’t the end of the world, as the feud with DX was a lot of fun, but in the aftermath, they should’ve felt like a bigger deal, but they instead went back to Orton’s side as lackeys.

Their fall began at the start of 2010, far too soon. Rhodes accidentally cost Orton his chance at regaining the WWE Championship, which made Rhodes look incredibly foolish, leading to a brawl breaking out, with Orton slowly turning face. During the Elimination Chamber WWE Title match, DiBiase would eliminate Orton with the help of Rhodes, sparking the three to break up the following night. The three were then set to compete in a triple threat at Wrestlemania.

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There was no better place for either Rhodes or DiBiase to establish themselves on a big stage, and WWE had the choice to decide which of the two could be set up for a huge push toward the top of the card. However, Orton was given the win, with the other two dropping back down the card, with no elevation from their time within the group, making it feel pointless.

WWE Never Committed To Pushing Rhodes Or DiBiase

A big problem with the faction at times was that Rhodes and DiBiase were made to feel like punching bags for the faces who were feuding with Orton, when instead they should’ve been legit performers, challenging for the Tag Titles, for example. The group would’ve felt even greater if all three men were holding gold, but WWE never went down that route.

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It is clear to see in the present day how much of a star Rhodes could’ve been in WWE, and whilst it's unclear where DiBiase would’ve ended up, he had a lot of potential too if his performances at the time were anything to go by, but this was all squandered with the spotlight staying firmly on Orton. This was another case of WWE refusing to commit to creating stars, even when it seemed so simple and an easy decision to make to push these two talented individuals. The Legacy was entertaining, for sure, but they could’ve reached greater heights, and their breakup should’ve been booked much better.