Hulk Hogan thought about killing himself when his marriage ended.

The legendary wrestler - real name Terry Bollea - got as far as picking up a gun to shoot himself when wife Linda Bollea filed for divorce after nearly 24 years together, following claims he had had an affair in 2007.

In his autobiography, My Life Outside the Ring, Hulk wrote: “There were times when I thought that a whole bottle of pills would go down easy. Then I noticed the gun in my hand. I was careless with it… I kept my finger pressed right to that trigger… and if I moved that finger an inch in the right direction I would have blown my brains out.”

Hulk’s depression descended further when his son Nick was indicted on reckless driving charges. He had been involved in an accident which left his friend and passenger, John Graziano, with a broken skull and in need of lifelong medical care. The incident happened after Nick and another friend were racing their cars, and Nick was sentenced to eight months in jail.

Hulk, 56, has also spoken of his dismay at Linda choosing to date Charlie Hill, a student 29 years her junior after their split. Charlie attended the same high school as Nick, 19, and the couple’s daughter, Brooke, 21. Hulk felt “humiliated” to live in Tampa, FL, and see his car driven by the teenager, but eventually he “took the high road” and “turned to Christ.”

My Life Outside the Ring hits shelves on October 27.