Tampa Radio: Bubba To Testify At Hulk vs. Gawker Trial

There's never been even more buildup to Hogan's legal match over a sex tape. Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, is suing Gawker Media for $100 million for publishing a portion of the salacious footage in 2012.

Barring any late developments, the dispute will finally make it to trial next Monday in St. Petersburg, Florida. Jury selection begins this week.

Hogan's legal team contends that Gawker violated Hogan's privacy by publishing the footage and initially refusing to take it down.

Gawker's defense rests largely on the First Amendment. Lawyers for the company argue that Hogan had made his sexual exploits a matter of public interest, and that the sex tape had been the subject of news stories prior to its publication.

CNN Money reports both sides participated in a third round of mediation a few weeks ago at the behest of the presiding judge, but to no avail. Neither side specified what derailed the mediation efforts.

The trial, assuming it goes ahead as planned, promises to be rife with drama. An "overflow" room has been set up to accommodate the press that is expected to be there, which will include a reporter from Gawker.

Hogan will take the stand, as will WBRN 98.7 FM radio personality Bubba "the Love Sponge" Clem. The sex tape, recorded inside Clem's home in 2006, showed Hogan having sex with Clem's wife at the time, Heather.

There will also be testimony from Gawker Media founder Nick Denton and former Gawker.com editor-in-chief A.J. Daulerio. Both are named as defendants along with the company.

Daulerio posted the footage on the company's flagship site nearly four years ago. The clip was taken down under a court order, but Daulerio's accompanying commentary remains. The post had racked up more than 6 million page views.