Hulk Hogan is suing his ex-wife for defamation, saying her claims that he had an affair with fellow wrestler Brutus Beefcake are "ridiculous" and "insane".

Hogan, whose real name is Terrance Gene Bollea, filed the lawsuit against his ex-wife Linda Bollea in Florida last week over claims she made in her book Wrestling the Hulk: My Life Against the Ropes, or while promoting it, that he was violent and had affairs with men.

Happier days ...Hulk Hogan with Linda Bollea in August 2006. Credit:Getty Images

She claimed he had an affair with wrestler Edward Leslie, known in the ring as Brutus Beefcake, The Booty Man and Dizzy Hogan, who began his career with Hulk Hogan and was often billed as his brother.

Hogan told Us Weekly he was baffled by the claims.