Hulk Hogan: I’m jacked up and ready for Gawker smackdown

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Chalk up another smackdown win for Hulk Hogan.

A state judge on Wednesday again denied a request by Gawker to dismiss a $100 million lawsuit filed against the struggling Web property by the former WWE star.

The not-unexpected legal victory has now set up a March 7 start to jury selection.

Hogan is suing Nick Denton’s banged-up media empire for invasion of privacy after it posted in October 2012 a 10-year-old video of the celebrity entertainer having sex with the wife of his then-best friend, Bubba the Love Sponge.

As he walked into court on Wednesday ahead of the seven-hour hearing, and decked out in his signature black bandanna, black jacket and black T-shirt, Hogan seemed confident.

“I’ve lost weight, I’m jacked up, I’m ready to slam another giant,” said Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea.

Gawker has countered that it’s protected not only by the First Amendment but by Hogan’s status as a public person.

The case took an unusual turn last July when, just ahead of the trial’s original start date, the National Enquirer ran a story about a Hogan rant against his daughter and her boyfriend — peppered with racist language.

The bombshell recording, which has the Hulk slinging the N-word and spewing other slurs, had been submitted to the court as evidence marked “Confidential — Attorney’s Eyes Only.”

The former wrestling star believes Gawker leaked the sealed evidence to the supermarket tabloid — an allegation that the Web site denies.

Hogan won the right to search Gawker’s computer system for evidence, like an email or text message, of a leak.

Gawker has appealed that decision, a source close to the Hogan camp said. That appeal is still pending in Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal.

A decision may not come before the scheduled March 10 start of the trial, a source told The Post.

Judge Pamela A.M. Campbell has also scheduled a last pretrial hearing on Feb. 17.

In its unsuccessful dismissal plea, Gawker’s lawyers accused Hogan of telling them one story about the sex tape and FBI investigators another. But Hogan’s success in sealing so much case evidence has kept both stories out of the public realm.

No matter who wins the case, the consequences are steep.

Hogan was immediately fired by WWE after his rant went public, prompting his lawyer to tell the court, “His career is done.”

Denton, the founder of Gawker Media, has admitted a loss to Hogan could be a company-ending event.