Whatcha gonna do, Gawker, when Hulkamania destroys you?
Hulk Hogan vs. Gawker is Hogan’s best program since his surprise heel turn at the 1996 Bash at the Beach and it looks like Gawker is finished after filing for bankruptcy today. The chokehold that has the media giant tapping out is a $140 million jury judgment in favor of Hogan. How we got here had all of the elements of the type of programming popular of wrestling’s golden age of the late 1990’s.
The feud started off between wrestling legend Hulk Hogan and Gawker. Hulk Hogan was filmed having sex with Heather Clem, then-wife of radio host and very short-lived TNA wrestling employee Bubba the Love Sponge, and Gawker published excerpts from the tape. Gawker has claimed this to be reasonable journalism as Hogan is a public figure. Thus began the grudge match.
Included in the entire 30 minute tape was a racist rant that resulted in Hogan no longer being mentioned or appearing on any current WWE properties. Hogan was no longer a clean babyface in this feud when this was released. The deplorable racism and half-hearted apology tour added nuance to Hogan’s character and allowed people to question his motives. Was Hogan only worried about this horrible part of the tape being released?
The crux of the case was the privacy of a public figure. At what point is Terry Bollea, a private citizen, and at what point is he Hulk Hogan.
Hulk Hogan wearing his formal bandana in court. (Steve Nesius/Pool/Associated Press)
A 2006 interview on Bubba the Love Sponge’s radio show was brought to light in which Hogan implied that he was well-endowed.
Gawker attorney Michael Sullivan asked, “So you were discussing Hulk Hogan’s penis?”
“Yeah, because Terry Bollea doesn't have a 10-inch penis,” Hogan replied.
In a dedication to a character I haven’t seen since Val Venis in the Attitude Era, a wrestler promoted a kayfabe penis.
After throwing chops back in forth in the courtroom, the jury awarded Hogan with $115 million in compensatory damages and a bonus $25 million in punitive damages. Gawker is currently appealing this ruling.
But all good feuds continue for a few extra matches. Just when things were thought to be over, it was revealed that a higher power had pulling the strings backstage. Financing Hogan’s legal battle with Gawker was venture capitalist Peter Thiel. The grudge between Thiel and Gawker began around 2007 when Gawker media property Valleywag attempted to out him as gay.
Who knows if there’ll be another match or how this feud finally comes to an end but sometimes what happens outside of the ring can be just as interesting as what happens inside the ring.
Random Gems
These tweets hit the cutting room floor but are too good not to share.