The WWEs decision to place its vacant Universal championship belt around the waist of Kevin Owens on Monday sent shock waves across the pro wrestling world due to the last-minute swerve on Raw.Owens, a beloved and respected heel by hardcore fans who have followed his journey from independent star to the top of WWEs main card, continues to gain new fans with his classic style and strong microphone work. Among his most prominent admirers is Hulk Hogan, who not only tweeted congratulations to Owens after his victory on Monday, but backed up his belief in Owens on Wednesday as a guest of former WCW president Eric Bischoff on his new podcast Bischoff on Wrestling.Yo yo Kevin Owens congrats my brother HH- Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) August 30, 2016Hogan has kept a relatively low profile since the firestorm of his 2015 firing by WWE, but he praised Owens as being the one person he believes could become the face of the business, even if he possesses many nontraditional qualities.One of the guys who was in WWE before they let me go -- and I dont know if he was on anybodys radar or anybody was watching him -- who you would never expect Hulk Hogan to point out was Kevin Owens, Hogan said. I told Triple H, This kid Kevin Owens, no matter how he looks physically and no matter what you think about him, when he walks out, hes over in such a weird way.The one major intangible Hogan points to when talking about Owens is the natural heat he creates with the crowd.I watched him work on an NXT match and he was just grinding old school like a heel, Hogan said. He was getting the heat, staying on a guy, letting a guy sell, walking away, going back to the dance, keeping his heat. Then I watched the baby face try to come up several times at the wrong time and Kevin had enough instincts to cut him off. And when he did let him come up, he was backpedaling like a Pat Patterson or a Hollywood Hogan or a real big chicken s--- heel and he was over so well as a heel.I told Triple H, If you get this guy up and running, he can turn into one of your greatest baby faces, Hogan claimed.Hogan believes todays superstars are like interchangeable parts but says Owens, despite not having the look or build of a Brock Lesnar or Ultimate Warrior, could be a dark horse because of the hope he creates.I look to see a guy with a lot of hope who could break through this cookie-cutter menu that people have now to choose from and break through and change the game again, Hogan said. A guy like Kevin Owens shows me that hope spot that no matter how much TV you have to shoot, no matter how many towns you have to make -- here is one guy that will put it back on track and make it easier for everybody to figure it out.The key to Owens ultimate success, Hogan believes, is how he navigates the politics behind the scenes. He referenced Hall of Famer Booker Ts catchphrase of Dont hate the player, hate the game, as it pertains to getting your big break and protecting it despite the objections of others.At the end of the day, the truth is this wrestling business -- as much as you do or dont want to admit it or understand it, with all these smart marks saying Hogan and John Cena are politicians -- is about relationships on every level, Hogan said. If you want to be a main event guy for 20 or 25 years or for however you want to do it, you have to be a great politician. You have to be a politician in the ring and in the dressing room.You have to be a great, smart politician when youre working with Vince [McMahon] and Triple H. You have to be a politician when youre out in public, especially, he continued. Its all about having that finesse to really make sure in every different situation that you understand the game. I dont know how much Kevin understands the overall game, but that has a direct influence on how long he will stay a dominant force in this business. He has to understand the game. Air Force 1 Cheap Outlet .2 billion agreement with Rogers Communications for the leagues broadcast and multimedia rights. Wholesale Air Force 1 Ireland .875,000, avoiding arbitration. Clippards deal Monday means all eight Nationals players who filed for arbitration wound up settling before a hearing. http://www.airforce1ireland.com/ . The third-ranked Ivanovic, who won the event in 2008 and 10, served five aces and broke Wickmayer, also a former winner in 2009, five times. "The result looked easier than it really was," Ivanovic said. Air Force 1 Ireland Sale . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. Cheap Air Force 1 Ireland . The home side created most of the chances but struggled to break down Braunschweigs resilient defence, resulting in the Bundesligas 1,000th scoreless draw. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Venus Williams isnt used to taking the court in doubles uncertain whether she can win.Thats why the four-time gold medalist sat in her changeover chair after an Olympic semifinal victory Saturday with her face in her hands, her jaw dropped in stunned elation.With Serena, I expect to win -- Ive got to be honest, she said of her younger sister, with whom she won three of those golds.But in the only draw in which shes still in contention in Rio de Janeiro, Venus mixed doubles partner is someone with whom she had never played before: American teammate Rajeev Ram.We had no idea how we were going to play together, she said, so the emotion is almost even bigger because ... you dont know what to expect. Its a wild feeling.The 36-year-old Williams couldnt stop jumping up and down after she and Ram rallied for a 2-6, 6-2, 10-3 tiebreak victory over Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna of India. Shes guaranteed a record-tying medal and will play Sunday for gold -- and more milestones -- in the final.To feel what I feel with Serena with someone else, I never thought that would happen, she said.I could double for Serena, Ram joked.The champions will be Americans: Williams and Ram face the other U.S. team, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jack Sock.Williams fifth medal will match the most in Olympic history; Kathleen McKane won five (one gold) in the 1920s. With a victory Sunday, shed become the first five-time Olympic tennis gold medalist, moving one ahead of her sister in that category. It would also make her the first player too win gold in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.ddddddddddddThe Williams sisters have always treasured the opportunity to go to the Olympics, where Venus was the singles champion in 2000 and Serena in 2012. They were undefeated in doubles together through their first three Olympic tournaments, but everything seemed to go wrong this time around.Venus was battling a virus even before she left for Rio de Janeiro, and she was upset in the first round in both singles and doubles. Serena fell in the third round.Venus wasnt initially expected to compete in mixed doubles, but after her early exits, she and Ram entered the 16-team draw.Ive got to be honest -- I was secretly hoping to be in this position when we first got in, said Williams, who was still coughing Saturday. I think we probably both were if we admitted it. But we were saying, `Oh, you know, we dont know whats going to happen.Ram wasnt even supposed to be at the Rio Olympics, added to the roster a few days before the opening ceremony when the 2012 mens doubles gold medalists, Bob and Mike Bryan, withdrew. He paired with Brian Baker in mens doubles, and they lost in the second round.The 32-year-old Ram, a first-time Olympian, is coming off a mens doubles semifinal appearance at Wimbledon.We get along; weve known each other for years, he said of Williams. To come out and actually be able to do something this special with Venus is fantastic. ' ' '