Linda Hogan alleges the wrestling star - whom she divorced in 2008 after 25 years of marriage - had a violent side and was physically abusive toward her.

In an extract from her autobiography, `Wrestling the Hulk: My Life Against the Ropes`, she writes: "Hulk tore my shirt. He threw lamps. He held me down on the bed with his hands around my throat during arguments, slamming doors, pounding walls.

"I was always afraid he would kill me in one of his rages."

Discussing the book on US TV`s `The Today Show` Linda, 51, said she believed prescription medicines played a part in her WWE and TNA wrestling star husband`s mood swings.

She said: "Drugs were always around - prescribed. Wrestlers have always got injuries. There was a constant flow of pain pills, anti-inflammatories, steroids - a lot of them did take steroids. Combined?

"It makes somebody - you don`t know what you`re dealing with."

Linda - who has two children, Brooke, 23 and Nick, 20 with Hulk - said she never spoke out for fear ruining her husband`s career.

She added: "I was afraid to say anything. Had I said something, the carpet would have been pulled up underneath his career. I don`t know what my kids would have done.
sections: Celebrities