Didn't the argument about how they were chased out the arena get mentioned here before? I'm sure it wasn't just Henry and Santino chasing them, there was a gang of Raw guys after them.
I don't think they've done anything to make them look particularly bad, definitely not Mean Street Posse level. They're heels, they're supposed to be a bit cowardly/sneaky. And while Otunga and Slater let Gabriel fight Orton, Gabriel was up for it, he didn't back down.
It's not been a 100% perfect angle, but I think you're being a bit harsh on it. It's been far from a
****-up IMO.