Hulk Hogan's Candid Biography Hits Bookstores Today

"When did I pick this up? Was it in the safe? Did I have it in the car with me the other night? I bought that gun years ago to protect my family. A last resort. Was I really gonna use it for this," Hulk Hogan recalls in his new autobiography My Life Outside the Ring, which hits shelves Tuesday. Hogan co-authored the book with Mark Dagostino.

The wrestling legend, born Terry Bollea, discusses his childhood, his 30-year wrestling career, his celebrity, his personal struggles and how the crushing impact of his private-turned-public life almost ended in suicide.

In 2007 Hogan's son, Nick, lost control of a vehicle while illegally racing another driver on a city street in Clearwater, Fla., that would leave his passenger, John Graziano, severely brain damaged. Nick was uninjured and spent five month in jail for reckless driving. One month after Nick's release, Hogan's wife, Linda, filed for divorce stemming from an affair he had with Christiane Plante, 33, who had worked with their daughter, Brooke, on her 2006 album.

As the drama continued to unfold, Hogan began to spiral into a deep depression which he chased down with rum and Xanax.

"I'd been staring at myself in the bathroom mirror for two days straight. Two days. A gun was in my hand and my finger was on the trigger and I was thinking, it would just be so easy. I could feel the life draining out of me," Hogan wrote. "It had me curling my index finger on the trigger of a loaded handgun and putting it in my mouth. Obviously I didn't kill myself, but I came damn close."

It was during a phone call from friend and former American Gladiator co-host Laila Ali that helped bring Hogan back from the brink. Hogan made the final decision to get well and back on the road to recovery.

My Life Outside the Ring shares with readers Hogan's striking admission of steroid and cocaine use during his Hulkamania years, and suffering severe injuries to his knees and back that were almost career-ending, in addition to lighter fare subjects such as meeting with Sylvester Stallone when auditioning for Rocky III.

With Hogan wrestling financial problems from his divorce settlement, attorney fees and back surgery, the 56-year-old Hulk will tour Australia at the end of November with notable wrestling veterans Ric Flair, Diamond Dallas Page, Brutus Beefcake and The Nasty Boys.

Hogan will embark on a two-week book tour with special appearances scheduled for Today, CNN's Larry King Live, and Jimmy Fallon's late-night show.