Los Angeles - Hulk Hogan's sex tape was reportedly leaked by an unhappy ex-employee of his best friend Bubba the Love Sponge.
The TNA IMPACT Wrestling star has been left devastated after X-rated footage of him and Heather Clem - the estranged wife of Bubba - surfaced online, and it has now been claimed an unpaid former Sirius XM Radio staff member working with the grappler's close pal was responsible for the release of the tape.
While working at the radio station, Bubba is said to have shared the sex tape with his "outraged" former employee, who is now thought to have released it as "payback" for Bubba quitting his job as a host at the station in December 2010 to return to terrestrial radio.
'Showed it to a bunch of people'
A source told RadarOnline.com: "Even though Bubba knew how much the Hulk sex tape would be worth, he didn't stab his friend in the back and he's not the one who released it.
"It's a former employee of Bubba's who was outraged when he left Sirius to go back to terrestrial radio. He wanted payback."
Bubba is also thought to have showed the X-rated footage to a number of other people as well as his disgruntled ex-colleague.
The source added: "Bubba didn't secure the tape properly and showed it to a bunch of people. And that's why they're all in this mess now."
'There could be another one'
Hulk, 59, recently admitted the publication of the sex tape is the "worst thing" that's ever happened to him and he is determined to find out who leaked the clip.
When asked if he will press charges, The Hulkster replied: "Oh yeah, oh yes sir. I've got to find out who did this to me. I've been rocked pretty hard before but this is ... I could see why someone would not want to face this and jump off the Empire State Building.
"I could see how this could do something really horrible to someone's life beyond repair.
"I have braced my family, there could be another one. I have no idea. I've never made a tape. I swear to god I wasn't in on this."
- BangShowBiz