Richie would do something unpredictable, he wouldn't have killed John but maybe beat up Peeps, or worse, in the end though a sit-down would have to be made and Ralph put into his place by Richie himself

Who brought Donny in, was he Gene's guy, or Gigi's?

He was only an associate regardless and an inherited one in Ritchie's respect. Ritchie likely would have used the situation to continue to balk towards Tony and stir the pot.

In this situation maybe Tony and John are forced to include Ritchie in something of theirs instead of merely waiving off Donny being brain damaged from the beating since it was Ralph's crew not Ritchie's, little was done in reparation towards the captain of the insulted party.

Good question though man, ultimately I think just more fuel in the fire between RItchie and Tony possibly leading to something besides the Janice outcome.

Yeah, Donnie K rolled with Richie. He's seen bringing in Matt Bevilaqua and Sean Gismonte to Richie. The famous "That nose is like a natural canopy" line is told by Richie.

I believe even Ralph knew he'd be the one getting popped if he demanded retribution from an underboss of a New York family, given that it was Ralph's fault that Donnie caught the beating in the first place.

Had it been Richie as a captain of that crew and Ralph being the reason for one of the guys getting beaten up? Both Ralph and John would have to answer for their actions, underboss or no. Richie wouldn't let it go until he'd be 110% satisfied with the outcome.

Richie would have sympathized with John because his would be wife, Janice Soprano, is overweight too. He would have been glad John gave Donny a vicious beatin'.

They were at a bar, he's not allowed to laugh? Peeps was just talking about fucking done broad wearing a Cats costume. And to think that someone on Donnies level would be laughing at Johnny Sac in front of him, I would have to say Johnny is a little insecure.