By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

WWE Raw TV notebook 3/11

-- WWE opened and closed the show by incorporating the Paul Bearer character played by deceased Bill Moody into the WrestleMania 29 feud between The Undertaker and C.M. Punk. After Kane beat Punk in the TV main event, Punk "stole Bearer's urn" and posed like Taker to antagonize his WM29 opponent in four weeks.

Throughout Raw, WWE "tributed" Paul Bearer by showing various clips of his more-famous moments in WWE.

-- Top star John Cena was at Raw in Indianapolis, but did not appear during the Raw broadcast. Cena wrestled in a post-Raw dark match for the live crowd that waited through a near-four-four-TV taping.

Cena tweeted after Raw: "Great time in Indy tonight! Not on Raw, but after strictly for WWE live crowd. Hope they liked NEW TEE SHIRT!" Then, Cena tweeted: "For thoseWWE fans confused. I WAS in Indy at Raw tonight. I competed in a match after Raw was off air. Sorry TV folk, CU next week."

Cena's WM29 opponent, WWE champion The Rock, was not advertised for the show and did not appear. Rock appeared via a video package on the Cena-Rock feud, which included a reference to John Cena's 2012 divorce as part of the story of Cena having a terrible 2012.

-- Brock Lesnar took out the New Age Outlaws, then spoke through Paul Heyman that he will fight Triple H at WrestleMania, but only if Hunter accepts stipulations. The stipulations would not be revealed until after Hunter signs a match contract.

-- WWE announced IC champion Wade Barrett vs. Chris Jericho vs. The Miz in a three-way match for the Intercontinental Title on next week's Raw.

-- WWE announced Mark Henry vs. Ryback for Friday's Smackdown. This was on-track for WrestleMania 29, so it remains to be seen if the match actually happens on Smackdown.

-- The Bella Twins returned to WWE TV via backstage segment. The storyline is that Raw authority figure Vickie Guerrero re-hired Brie & Nikki Bella to bolster the Divas division.

[Torch photo credit Wade Keller (c) PWTorch.com]

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