Hulk Hogan's Wife Files For Divorce

Linda also seeks an unspecified amount in alimony and child support from the 53-year-old wrestler, as well as health insurance for Nick, who has been charged with reckless driving in a car crash in August in Clearwater in which Nick's passenger was severely injured. (Authorities just released tapes  of the 911 calls reporting the accident.)

As for money, Linda is seeking to split the couple's assets, which include the 17,000-square-foot Bel Air mansion where the family primarily lives and a 3,474-square-foot home in Clearwater Beach, Fla., as well as a condo under construction in Las Vegas. The two existing homes alone are worth nearly $9.5 million, the petition says.

Terry Bollea, 54, told a reporter last week that the divorce filing caught him "off guard," saying his wife has been in California for the past few weeks.  In a statement released through his agent, Darren Prince, to TMZ, the Hogan Knows Best star, 54, says: "Please respect my family's privacy at this time with all that we have been through."  The semi-retired pro wrestler adds: "I care for my wife and my children are my world and I just hope this all works out."

Word of the split was first reported by WTVT, the FOX affiliate in Tampa.  According to the St. Petersburg Times, a Times reporter reportedly broke the news to Hogan on last Friday night.  He thanked the reporter for the "great information" then called back five minutes later to say, "I'm kind of shocked. You caught me off-guard. My wife has been in California for about three weeks. ... Holy smokes. Wow, you just knocked the bottom out of me. ... I just pulled over to the side of the road for five minutes to find out what was going on here."

At least one person thinks this divorce filing is a scam and is a strategic move in the  civil suit over the wreck that critically injured a young man riding with their son.  The St. Petersburg Times is reporting that that is the opinion of Kimberley Kohn, a Tampa attorney who represents Ed Graziano, the father of injured passenger John Graziano.  Kohn said Monday a divorce could be one step the Bolleas could take to try to protect assets. That's because it could cut Terry Bollea's assets in half, she said.  If the Supra and the Viper are not registered to both parents, it could be harder to go after Mrs. Bollea individually, Kohn said. The mother's degree of control over who used the vehicles would have to be determined.  Kohn said she would proceed with a civil suit as if the couple were married. She and attorney George Tragos, who represents Graziano's mother Debra, will handle any civil suit, which she expects will be filed in 2008.

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