Hulk Hogan Takes Dig at Gawker After Site Announces Shutdown

Wound, meet salt.

Pro wrestling legend Hulk Hogan rubbed Gawker’s nose in it on Thursday, after Gawker announced that it will be shutting down next week.

“They messed with the wrong guy brother,” the Hulkster tweeted, following the news that the site — which was hit with a devastating $140 million in damages earlier this year after the wrestler sued it — had thrown in the towel.

Also Read: Will New Gawker Owner Be Responsible for Hulk Hogan's $140 Million Award?

On Tuesday, Univision won an auction to acquire Gawker Media, which filed for bankruptcy after losing the lawsuit. Pending approval by a bankruptcy court, Univision will pay $135 million for the company.

They messed with the wrong guy brother HH

— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) August 18, 2016

Going forward, however, Gawker Media will operate without its flagship website. On Thursday, Gawker founder Nick Denton told staff that Gawker.com will shut down next week, after 14 years of Internet controversy.

Gawker.com staff will soon be assigned to other editorial roles, either at one of Gawker Media’s six other sites or elsewhere within Univision, according to the site. Plans for the site’s archives have not been finalized.

Also Read: Hulk Hogan, Gawker Discuss Settlement of $140 Million Judgment (Report)

Hogan — real name: Terry Bollea — sued Gawker, claiming that the site violated his privacy by publishing portions of a sex tape featuring himself and the then-wife of his then-friend, radio DJ Todd “Bubba the Love Sponge” Clem. Hogan claimed that the tape was recorded without his knowledge.

A Florida jury agreed with Hogan big-time, awarding him $115 million damages, later tacking on another $25 million in punitive damages.

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.
Getty Images