Summary: Hulk Hogan is going after additional radio personalities for ruining his career with the WWE when a sex tape with him was released.
It’s been over a year since Hulk Hogan dealt with a scandal involving him and a sex tape. He is back fighting those that were involved in the release of the video. The world famous professional wrestler won the major lawsuit against Gawker last year but is now suing more radio personalities for defamation.
Hogan, also known by his real name of Terry Gene Bollea, filed the defamation lawsuit in Pinellas County. A court judge ruled that the lawsuit can move forward against Mike ‘Cowhead’ Calta. Hogan is also suing Matt ‘Spice Boy’ Lloyd and owner of ‘The Bone’, Cox Radio. Calta is a morning host for 1025 The Bone with Lloyd.
The issue is a 2007 sex tape between Hogan and his former best friend’s wife. His former friend, Bay Area radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge Clem, secretly recorded the encounter. The video was then posted on Gawker Media in 2012 without Hogan’s knowledge or permission. This led to his successful lawsuit against Gawker, in which Hogan was awarded $100 million. Over 7 million people viewed the sex tape before it was removed.
A jury found that Gawker violated his privacy when they posted the one-minute, 41-second clip of the sex tape. Gawker has since filed for bankruptcy and was sold soon after the awarded amount was announced by a jury, so Hogan is unlikely to ever see any money. A settlement was reached for $31 million but it is still unlikely that Hogan will receive the money.
Hogan is now suing other radio personalities, claiming they were involved in “stealing, disseminating, using and exploiting illegally-recorded video.” Calta and Lloyd were asking for the judge to dismiss the case against them, but their request was denied. Both have refused to answer the allegations against them laid out in Hogan’s complaint. The judge gave them 20 days to respond to the allegations.
Hogan argues that the sex tape ruined his professional wrestling career of 35-years. Hogan can be heard using a racial slur in the tape, which resulted in the termination of his contract with the WWE. When Hogan was fired, the WWE removed all evidence of him from their website, including links to his profile, merchandise, and photographs.
Rumors have since surfaced that Hogan may make a return in 2018 to the wrestling world. Legendary WWU announcer and executive Jim Ross said, “I don’t have any insider knowledge that Hulk will be back in WWE, but if he isn’t in 2018, I will be shocked.”
Ross believes that Hogan has paid his price. He added, “The world has an interesting way of forgiving others. The guy paid his price. He had a trial. He lost jobs. He had a court case. I don’t know what more he needs to do. And why are we his judge and jury? It seems right for, arguably the greatest alumnus of WWE ever with the most global name identity, will make his presence felt in WWE in some way.”
Do you think Hogan will make a comeback even though he is 64-years-old now? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
To learn more about Hogan’s case against Gawker, read these articles:
- Hulk Hogan’s $115 Million Judgment May Ruin Gawker, Change Celebrity News
- Billionaire Peter Thiel Reportedly Financed Hulk Hogan’s Gawker Lawsuit
- Hulk Hogan Collects $31 Million in Gawker Case
Photo: flickr.com