The Legacy

The Legacy was a vicious stable in the WWE from late 2008 to 2011, built around the idea of multi-generational wrestlers. Led by Randy Orton, the core trio featured Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase Jr., with short early stints from Manu (Afa Anoaʻi Jr.) and Sim Snuka (aka Deuce) during the faction’s formation. The name reflected the members’ family pedigrees and the on-screen premise that Orton mentored younger second- and third-generation talents to tighten his grip on WWE’s main event scene.

The group merged after Rhodes turned on Hardcore Holly to align with DiBiase and form the “Priceless” tag team, which later connected with Orton as he returned to action. By December 2008, the alliance was formalized as The Legacy. Manu and Sim Snuka were soon out of the picture, leaving Orton, Rhodes, and DiBiase as the active unit through 2009.

Through 2009 the trio were central to major storylines, helping Orton win the 2009 Royal Rumble and anchoring his feud with the McMahon family and Triple H that peaked around WrestleMania 25 and the spring pay-per-views.

Legacy’s interference and numbers advantage were recurring themes in Orton’s WWE Championship pursuits that year, including multi-man headline bouts on pay-per-view and television. Tension mounted in early 2010, leading to Orton turning on his protégés and the stable dissolving after a Triple Threat clash at WrestleMania XXVI.