Yeah, the Savage as a threat thing is hard to swallow when Rip defeated him and then they just left the body there. If they had given even a half-asses explanation that, if not killed by Kendra, he'd reappear somewhere else in the world when he died, then how tough beating him is would make sense.
We even saw in that Arrow/Flash crossover that once Vandal was defeated, it took outside assistance for him to come back.
And we still have no clue why Merlyn resurrected Savage. Who would be one of his rivals and general pain in the neck.
"Let me guess. My theories appall you, my heresies outrage you, I never answer letters, and you don't like my tie!"