Hulk Hogan's fight for the rights of every celebrity with a sex tape has begun.
During introductory remarks in Hogan's civil suit against Gawker Media, Judge Pamela Campbell said the case would involve deciding whether the ( Gawker-run) site publishing Hogan's sex tape was a matter of “legitimate public concern” or whether it represented a “morbid and sensational prying” into Hogan’s private life “for its own sake.” Hogan said his former friend, radio personality Bubba The Love Sponge, filmed his wife and Hogan having sex and released it without Hogan's knowledge or consent.
MORE: Lawyer says tape 'massive' invasion of privacy
Hulk's seeking $100 million in damages; the outcome could determine both the future both of Gawker and cases involving the privacy of celebrities.
The first, biggest step into figuring all this out is testimony from Hogan himself — and he did not disappoint.
Early on, Hogan copped not having many real friends inside wrestling; the two he mentioned were Jimmy Hart and, of course, "Brutus Beefcake," whose real name is Ed Leslie. Hulk and Brutus aren't as close any more, Hulk said, because he doesn't get along with Brutus' wife. OK.
There were of course, wrestling references aplenty.#hulkvsgawk
— Tom Kludt (@TomKludt) March 7, 2016
Hogan also said that WWE chairman Vince McMahon disapproved of his decision to appear as "Thunderlips" in "Rocky III" enough to fire him, then had to walk the decision back because of how much more famous the role made him.
Hogan's attorney is listing his client's accomplishments. Among them: 3rd WrestleMania, body slamming Andre the Giant #hulkvsgawk
— Anna Phillips (@annamphillips) March 7, 2016
Bubba The Love Sponge (BTLS) and then-wife Heather Clem, Hogan said, had hassled him for years to have sex with her — long enough for it to turn into a joke. “It was almost like poking me, because they’d get a response from me," Hogan said. “I actually thought it had turned into a joke. … I actually took it as a joke for a while.” BTLS was, as Hogan reinforced constantly, one of his few best friends.
“He was holding my father as my father passed away," Hogan said. “I believed in my heart he was my best friend.”
Hogan said he finally gave in to BTLS's cajoling after his wife, Linda, left him for good in 2007. So, despite his "gut telling (him) this is wrong," he had sex with Heather. “It was very weird," Hogan said. Yep! To add to the weirdness, Hogan moved in with the couple after his wife officially filed for divorce, and expressed concern that he'd get bullied into having sex again.
As far as the tape is concerned — and this is important — he said he had no idea that he was being filmed, and that when the video was released, BTLS told him he had nothing to do with it — a claim Hogan said he mistakenly believed. "He's not my friend," Hogan said. "I miss the guy I thought he was."
During cross examination, Hogan's lawyers objected to a question about whether BTLS had told Hogan that he had more tapes of Heather having sex with other people. Gawker's lawyers also wondered why Hogan, on camera, asked whether he was being taped if he had no idea that a camera was actually running — the implication being that Hogan may have known what was happening, which would open up plenty more gross, weird doors.
Based on precedent, the defence will have Hogan nearly choked out, only to have him rebound at the last second, then go off the ropes for a leg drop.