Hulk Hogan: Gawker Boss 'Scared the Hell Out of Me'

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Hulk Hogan may have emerged triumphant in his lawsuit against Gawker, but it looks like we know who would win in a staring contest between Hogan and Gawker founder, Nick Denton.

In an interview with the New York Post, Hogan — who was awarded a total of $140 million in damages in his lawsuit against Gawker — said that Denton “scared the hell out of me” during the trial, which took place in Florida.

“Denton and I had a stare-down. He scared me staring at me, man. He just sat there staring,” Hogan said. “It was right after his cross-examination. He stood up and stared. It was like he was going to call me out at ‘Wrestlemania,’ Yikes!”

Also Read: Gawker's Nick Denton: Hulk Hogan Case 'Went Wildly Off the Rails'

Hogan also referred to Denton as a puppet master who’s “very proud of his buccaneering young stud,” meaning former Gawker editor, A.J. Daulerio.

The wrestling legend added that he was offered “a large amount of money” to settle the case, but chose “not to put my tail between my legs.”

Hogan sued Gawker claiming that the website had violated his privacy by publishing portions of a sex tape featuring him and the then-wife of his friend, Todd “Bubba the Love Sponge” Clem. Hogan maintained that he was unaware that the sexual encounter was being recorded.

Also Read: Hulk Hogan Crushes Gawker Yet Again, This Time on Twitter

Denton has said that Gawker will appeal the case.

Hulk Hogan Timeline: From Hulkamania to Gawker Sex Tape Trial (Photos)

Hulk Hogan was born Terry Bolea and attended high school in Tampa, Fla.
Thomas Richard Robinson High School
Hogan broke into the wrestling business in the late 1970's, working under names like Terry Boulder.
WWE
Hogan and his 24-inch pythons ran wild when Hulkamania swept the globe in the 1980's.
WWE
Hogan shocked the world when he bodyslammed the 520-pound Andre the Giant at Wrestlemania III.
WWE
Hogan's movie debut was in "Rocky III" as Thunderlips, a wrestler Rocky takes on at a charity event.
MGM
Hogan later starred alongside Christopher Lloyd in "Suburban Commando," one of many critical and commercial bombs Hogan was involved in.
New Line
Hogan admitted to taking steroids while testifying during a federal trial against WWF owner Vince McMahon. Hogan denied McMahon supplied or forced him to take the steroids, resulting in McMahon's acquittal.
WWE
Hogan left WWF and competed in WCW from 1994 to 2000. While there, he teamed with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash to form the infamous New World Order.
WWE
Hogan returned to WWF in 2002 and faced off against The Rock at Wrestlemania X8.
WWE
Hogan starred in "Hogan Knows Best," a reality show with his family, from 2005 to 2007. The show was abruptly cancelled after Hogan's wife, Linda Claridge, filed for divorce when she discovered Hogan cheated on her during filming.
VH1
A few months prior to the divorce, Hogan was harshly criticized after his son was sent to jail for reckless driving that left a friend with irreversible brain damage. Tapes released by local police revealed Hogan and his son blaming the victim during a phone call and planning to capitalize on the crash with a reality TV deal.
Clearwater PD
Hogan moved to TNA Wrestling in 2010, immediately becoming a major character in the promotion. He returned to WWE in 2014.
TNA
A clip from a sex tape featuring Hogan and Heather Clem, ex-wife of Bubba The Love Sponge, is published on Gawker in October 2012.
Getty Images
After returning to WWF, now called WWE, in 2014, Hogan was fired in July 2015 after a racist rant from his sex tapes was released by the National Enquirer.
WWE
On March 7, the trial between Hogan and Gawker began. Hogan is suing Gawker for $100 million in damages, accusing the outlet of invasion of privacy.
AP
On March 18, Hogan was awarded $115 million (more than the amount he was seeking) after a ten-day trial and less than a day of deliberation by the jury.
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