Tommy Platinum

Of course I am not forgetting how the stable was treated in the build up to Mania and the months which followed, in fact, that is the whole point.

For months Legacy was a joke, and people commented that it was one of the weakest factions in history as Triple H repeatedly got the better of them even in a 3 on 1 situation, and even when he didn't, it seemed like a huge struggle for a main eventer plus two lackeys to overcome one man. Obviously the credibility of not only Randy Orton, but Rhodes and Dibiase, was being harmed by this booking.

However, in the space of a few short weeks, Rhodes and Dibiase have been booked to look like a credible threat to anybody. I'd say it started a few weeks ago, when Dibiase faced Orton on RAW and almost beat him. DX's return led many to believe that Legacy would simply get destroyed to allow Triple H and Michaels to stroke their egos, but the reality couldn't have been more different. In the build up to the Summerslam match, the duo showed great intensity in attacking DX and beating them down, even without Orton's help. At the PPV, people assumed they'd get squashed, but they actually pushed DX to the limit in a match with exceeded all expectations, and looked like it could have gone either way. DX making somebody look great in defeat is practically unheard of, but they did it here.

So the feud continues, with some more good beatdowns and intensity shown by Legacy, and Cody Rhodes, perceived as the least credible of the two, going one on one with Cena and controlling the match. Yes, Orton interfered at the end when Cody was about to tap to the STF, but to get that much offence on somebody as credible as Cena makes you look pretty great imo. Suddenly, Legacy are more than just Orton's lackeys. They are not only a very capable and credible tag team, but they pose a threat alone too.

This reached a head at Breaking Point, where Legacy gained a submission victory over DX. I think that, while the match effectively became 2 on 1 at various stages, including for the finish, this doesn't take anything away from DX. As I said in other threads, it just makes them look like a formidable team who are intelligent, dangerous, and know how to win, even against such illustrious opponents. Even with the double submission, saying they made DX tap is that much more impactful than a pinfall victory would have been, and Cole and King have even done well putting this over in commentary. The way they took out Triple H made them look dangerous and intense. Obviously the two have very good mic skills, particularly Cody, and are getting mic time to remind people of their accomplishment.

RAW Spoiler:

Last night on RAW, Dibiase also looked good against HBK in one on one competition, and now we have a Hell in a Cell match between the two teams set up for the PPV.

To get to the point after a fairly long winded recent history lesson, am I the only one who thinks this has been brilliant booking? Everybody was saying it would take months or even years to restore their credibility after the Triple H/Orton feud, or even that the damage was irreversable, yet now they look like they are capable of defeating anybody as a team, and can also give anybody a run for their money in singles competition. RAW is consistently criticised for the way it treats young stars of the future, and while there is a LOT of work to be done yet, it must be said that the booking of Legacy over the past few weeks has been stellar. They have been transformed from weak lackeys into a credible tag team who really do represent the future.

Thoughts on the booking over the past few weeks?

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Red Devils

I would have to agree that Legacy have definitely stepped up to the plate with this feud between them and DX. I think the match last night with HBK and DiBiase was solid and I reckon both member have a great future ahead of them. As a tag team they are a force to be reckoned with and I would like to see them against JeriShow after DX because they deserve a title shot.

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Bigpapa42

Its very good booking, but I don't know that its amazing. I think its moreso just very solid booking that is being played out correctly on-screen. Its the kind of booking that we should be seeing regularly but don't. We are just so used sloppy, lazy, and predictable booking that it seems all the more amazing.

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KenTheKiller

I agree with both Tommy and Bigpapa in a way. On one hand, to take two guys who had near zero credibility and make them look this good is some very great booking. But at the same time, making guys look good is the name of the game. WWE just has failed for so long them doing it with guys like Legacy, Punk, Morrison, Dolph, hell even starting to do it with MVP, etc. is refreshing and great to see.

Cody and Ted finally got the ball and they are running with it. To quote the oh so epic Legacy theme, it's a new day, it's a new generation.

And I'm loving it.

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Bigpapa42

I think its been done very well, especially when you consider how meh they made both Rhodes and DiBiase look for so long. Its just that when I think of "brilliant" or "great" booking, I think of something truly innovative and unique. To me, this is just a textbook example of how to make young talent look like they belong.

Same with the Punk heel turn - I loved it. But I just thought it was a well-worked heel turn, not anything ground-breaking.

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SantinoFan

For me I don't count it as great booking because of the poor booking before it. If they did this from the start it would have been great booking, now it just seems that they are trying to ram Legacy down our throats as a great stable.

TheUnforgivableOne

This.

I feel as if it's been a good feud on everyone's part, the writers, the bookers, obviously Legacy, and somewhat surprisingly DX. Shawn's selling on Raw in the match vs Ted this week was amazing, and it shows you how intense the feud has been in kayfabe terms. I also loved how Cody taunted DX by tapping the ringpost while Shawn was helpless on the outside.

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Tommy Platinum

Yeah good point to be honest. I guess I'm just so surprised to see a couple of young guys being treated well that I take it as amazing booking, when it's really just solid, logical booking. It's mainly about the contrast between the way they were booked up until a couple of months ago, and now. Considering they fucked up badly during the Orton/HHH feud, they have done a very good job of rectifying the situation....

...assuming of course they don't get squashed in the cell.

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Bigpapa42

And that truly woudl not surprise me. It would be so wrong, yet I could still see it happening.

And I know what you mean about being surprised to see it. Its sad that we're so conditioned to except poor, sloppy, and predictable booking that really good booking amazes. As I said, I had the same reaction initially to the Punk heel turn before realizing that it was not actually epically brilliant booking. Just good, solid, and well-planned.

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KenTheKiller

I don't know.. I'd say Punk's storyline was pretty great to be honest. But that's another discussion for another time.

I just really hope they don't get squashed in the Cell. I've been saying that for the last two ppvs', that I hope they don't get squashed, and I've been surprisingly pleased with what I've seen. But I still have a bit of worry deep down.

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