When the Four Horseman were formed originally it was
Ric Flair who was champion
Ole and Arn who had the reputation of whipping muthafukas asses and taking names later, also were "Family" of Flair and were brought in as his "ENFORCERS"
Tully Blanchard was a former champion in Mid-Atlantic and was beefing with Steamboat
J.J. Dillion was a reputable champion in the NAW so he had a name
Also you must remember this was the time when wrestling still had territories so these dudes had a reputation already. Flair brought in the Andersons as his enforcers when he was beefing with Magnum TA, Rock and Roll Express, Road Warriors etc. so when they were injuring these dudes they got instant credibility, this was also a sort of initiation for them because the Horesemen weren't united until after they did all this damage.
Malenko and all of them that followed could be brought into the group and muthafukas not be like

because the Horsemen already had the PRESTIGE that you talk about, so anyone who was introduced would already have respect because the Horsemen only fukked with the best. Once you get a group to a certain point the group elevates the talent. Road Dogg was fukking hype man, Billy Gunn was a cowboy and Kidd was a damn underdog before Degeneration X and look at what happened to them.
I say have them be militant because that's the easiest way to go. You say Kofi don't look mad or can't be?
So you want these dudes to switch it up and start acting like they're A+ players or Main Event Players, swaggin out, limousine riding, jet plane riding pimps? FOH, they way they been booked it would only be right if someone came out and tried to unite these dudes (Otunga being the best person storyline wise with his lawyer background), shyt they don't even have to be militant, let Otunga be the one talking about going to court or some shyt if his "clients" don't star getting matches against the main event talent, then start letting them win some of these damn matches and, let them be elevated.