Hulk Hogan testifies that he didn't know he was being videotaped having sex with his friend's wife after Gawker invokes the Holocaust defending themselves for running it

Former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan says he was 'completely humiliated' by the publication of a video showing him having sex with his then-best friend's wife.

Testifying Monday in his privacy lawsuit against the Gawker website, 62-year-old Hogan said he did not authorize the tape to be made or authorize Gawker to publish it.

Hogan - whose real name is Terry Bollea - said when he realized that his then-best friend, radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge Clem, was involved in making the tape, he began shaking uncontrollably.

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Terry Bollea, known as professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, listens while testifying in his case against the news website Gawker at the Pinellas County Courthouse, in St. Petersburg, Floriga on Monday

When Hogan took the stand on Monday, he claimed he didn't know he was being filmed having sex with a friend's wife and that he never gave permission to the website Gawker to publish the video

Earlier, Hogan testified that his friend told him in a phone call that his wife Heather wanted to have sex with him.

Hogan said he treated it as a joke, but the couple - who he said had an open marriage - kept bringing it up repeatedly.

Hogan testified that when he and Heather eventually did have sex, her husband handed Hogan a condom. Hogan said he felt something was wrong, and he asked if they were being taped. He said Bubba denied it.

Hogan is suing Gawker for $100 million for publishing the sex videotape.

In opening statements, a lawyer for Gawker invoked the Holocaust when he defended the website's choice to publish the sex tape. 

Gawker defense attorney Michael Berry told the story of how the website's founder Nick Denton came from a family that escaped the Holocaust and Soviet occupation.

Denton's mother was a Hungarian Jew 'who survived the Nazis' and then escaped Soviet occupation by fleeing to England at the age of 18.

'Mr. Denton grew up with parents who’ve seen first-hand what happens when speech is suppressed,' Berry said.

'He wants the public to have the simple, unvarnished truth … the unvarnished truth about public figures.'  

The civil trial, which started Monday in downtown St. Petersburg, pits the rowdy wrestling star against a maverick news website that's known for pulling no punches with celebrities and other famous figures.

Hogan is suing Gawker for $100million on claims the website violated his private. Pictured above in court on MOnday

Here's what both sides agree on: In 2006, following a messy divorce, Hogan had sex with the wife of his then-best friend, shock jock Bubba The Love Sponge Clem. Hogan's lawyers said there were three sexual encounters; at least one of them was captured on video.

Hogan says he didn't know he was being videoed. It's unclear who leaked the video to Gawker and other media, but some police reports claim it was a disgruntled producer on Bubba Clem's radio show.

An attorney for Hogan told jurors that Gawker 'crossed the line' when posting the video, portraying Gawker founder Nick Denton and his reporter as reckless and profit-hungry.

'They knew what they were doing, but they didn't care.' 

Hogan said he felt something was wrong when he was having sex with Heather (left), and he asked if they were being taped. He said Bubba (right) denied it. The former couple pictured above 

Gawker says the publication was a legitimate scoop because Hogan had talked openly about his sex life before, in forums such as Howard Stern's radio show.

The lawyer for the New York-based website says Gawker has a right to address uncomfortable subjects, reject spin by celebrities and tell the truth.

Gawker attorney Michael Berry told jurors during opening that the media company doesn't know who sent the video of wrestler Hulk Hogan having sex with his then-best friend's wife.

He acknowledged that Gawker broadcast one minute and 41 seconds of the 30-minute video in 2012 and that around nine seconds of the edited video included sexual content. Gawker's reporter, A.J. Daulerio, posted the video to accompany a story about how celebrity sex tapes fascinate the public — while being lackluster.

'Celebrity sex is incredibly dull,' said Berry.

Hogan attained pro wrestling stardom in the 1980s and 1990s, winning multiple championships. Pictured on the left in 1994 and on the right in 1990 

As far as Gawker making money off the post, Berry said it didn't. Advertisers don't post ads on Gawker's items that are labeled 'NSFW,' or 'not safe for work.'

Berry says news of the tape, including screen shots, was on other sites before Gawker published the video. He added that Hogan even talked about the video's existence on national television and radio shows.

The lawyer added that Gawker was built on the idea that the public shouldn't have to accept spin from advertisers and publicists, and that Gawker isn't beholden to 'these elites.'

He added that Gawker founder Denton 'wants people to know the truth. The simple unvarnished truth.'

The trial is expected to last three weeks.

Hogan attained pro wrestling stardom in the 1980s and 1990s, winning multiple championships. He also became a celebrity outside the base of his 'Hulkamania' fans, appearing in numerous movies and television shows, including a reality show about his life on VH1, 'Hogan Knows Best.'