I’m usually not the biggest of biopic fans. More often than not, they are formulaic and melodramatic, as we watch our hero rise to fame, only to lose it all, then get it back in the end. However, as a lifelong wrestling fan, Queen of the Ring, written and directed by Ash Avildsen, had me intrigued. Based on the book of the same title by Jeff Leen, Queen of the Ring tells the story of Mildred Burke (in a dazzling performance by Emily Bett Rickards), one of the very first professional wrestlers, who began her career in the 1930s and wrestled for twenty years. From the moment we meet her, Mildred knows exactly what she wants, and she won’t let anyone, including the man (Josh Lucas) who got her started, stand in the way of a dream that might sound outlandish to many.
Wrestling biopics, while rare, are not new. Late 2023 saw the release of The Iron Claw, about the famed Von Erich family. That story is beyond tragic, but although Queen of the Ring does have some sad moments, it’s also a story of unwavering passion. As the final credits roll, you’re going to feel a renewed strength thanks to such a powerful icon.
What Is ‘Queen of the Ring’ About?

Queen of the Ring starts in 1930s Kansas. Mildred Bliss (Rickards) is a single mother working at a diner with her mom, Bertha (Cara Buono). But instead of falling into the trope of Mildred being shown as overwhelmed, or defined by her status of not having a man to ease her burden, she’s instead a happy and energetic woman. She even goes with her mother to a local wrestling show where Billy Wolfe (Lucas) is competing. The two women, especially Mildred, are in awe of what they are seeing. If you’re not a wrestling fan, Queen of the Ring takes a few minutes to explain the lingo, like babyfaces and heels, which makes the dialogue feel inauthentic and clunky. This was a worrisome trend through much of the first act. When Billy comes to the diner, it’s like Mildred is meeting a movie star. She has no qualms bothering Billy and letting him know she wants to be a wrestler. This is her biggest dream, and she can do anything a man can. While this is the theme of the story, it has that sappy dialogue often found in middle of the road biopics.
Thankfully, Queen of the Ring quickly finds its way once we get past the introductions. Mildred gets Billy to train her, even though he’s annoyed by her. However, when he discovers how good she is in the ring when he surprises her with a male partner, Billy is all in. He quickly has Mildred, with her new ring name of Mildred Burke, performing at carnivals, where she mostly wrestles men in real matches. Eventually, Mildred will rise up the ranks to wrestling women in arenas, but there’s no movie without conflict. Mildred sadly finds hers in Billy Wolfe. The two quickly fall in love, despite him being twice her age, and when they have a falling out over his behavior, he tries to block her path to greatness.
Wrestling Fans Will Find ‘Queen of the Ring’s Matches Compelling

No biopic can work if you don’t get the portrayal of the protagonist’s passion right. Imagine A Complete Unknown if Timothée Chalamet didn’t sing just like Bob Dylan. In Queen of the Ring, the singing is done in the ring with body slams. Like a Rocky movie, which is an apt and not at all hyperbolic comparison, we watch Mildred rise up the ranks from the carnival side show to the main event in the NWA. If those matches look clunky, everything else falls apart, but Queen of the Ring is successful in making the squared circle come off like a theatrical stage.
It takes everyone coming together to make this work. Queen of the Ring excels in matching the feel of the era, from the way the wrestlers dress, to the look of the wrestling show, with the design and cinematography making you feel like you were dropped into a world that’s now nearly a century gone by. Emily Bett Rickards isn’t a professional wrestler, but you can easily tell how much energy she put into the project, from her body transformation into becoming “Millie Muscles” to the way she moves in the ring. None of these bouts come off as overly choreographed, as if she’s waiting for the next move, but instead feel of the moment.

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Emily Bett Rickards Shares Why Playing Wrestler Mildred Burke in ‘Queen of the Ring’ Is the Greatest Role of Her Career

“I had a little wagon of weights, so I would do quick pumps before every take,” says Rickards, of her dedication in bringing her character to life.

As a wrestling fan, it was exciting to see real-life wrestlers in the ring with Rickards. Seen most is Kailey Farmer (AEW’s Kamille), who plays Mildred’s biggest rival, the stiff-working bully, June Byers. We also get cameos from Trinity Fatu (Naomi in WWE), AEW’s Britt Baker, Mickie James, and Toni Rossal (AEW’s Toni Storm) as the first champion Burke must defeat, Clara Mortensen. With Storm currently the best women’s wrestler in the world, with the character of a golden age Hollywood starlet, she is perfectly cast. Queen of the Ring also has Jim Cornette playing the NWA Commissioner, as well as portrayals of popular wrestlers like Gorgeous George (Adam Demos) and Mae Young (Francesca Eastwood), creating a movie that’s a love letter to the sport, and never makes it feel beneath the spotlight of Hollywood.
Mildred Burke’s Strength Carries ‘Queen of the Ring’

Image via Sumerian Pictures

Mildred Burke shows a lot of strength in the ring, but even more important is her courage outside of it. She is not a stereotype that wilts in front of Billy Wolfe or any man. When she catches Billy cheating on her, she immediately confronts him. If he does her wrong, she tells him and demands to be respected. There are no silent, longing looks where she tries to muster up bravery. The way the women in this world treat each other is also refreshing. There are a few antagonists, of course, but for the most part, every single one of these women wrestlers is there to support each other, whether it be in their careers, or their personal lives. Female empowerment is an easy term to use here, but that’s exactly what it is. There’s also plenty of male support to oppose Billy Wolfe, such as Walton Goggins as a promoter who helps Mildred.
Queen of the Ring could have faltered with one subplot that has Mildred falling for Bill (Tyler Posey), Billy’s son, and a man her age, but even though he is technically her stepson, instead of their relationship feeling gross, it’s authentic, while also being a little sad, because Mildred seems to know she’ll never have a romantic love. Wrestling is her love, and also her son, Joe (Gavin Casalegno). The highlight of Queen of the Ring comes when we have our final, climactic match, with Joe at his mother’s side, not only cheering her on, but coaching her. Their dynamic is sweet, and I wish we could have had more of it, because Mildred Burke may have been an iconic wrestler, but it didn’t consume her to the point that she pushed others away, like we often see in similar tales. Above all, she loved her mother and child most. That makes Mildred Burke and Queen of the Ring easy to root for.

Queen of the Ring

A rare biopic that keeps its protagonist strong throughout.

Release Date

October 25, 2024

Runtime

130 minutes

Director

Ash Avildsen

Producers

Aimee Schoof, Anthony Mastromauro, Isen Robbins, Jim Ross, Baron Bodnar

Cast

Marie Avgeropoulos

Elvira Snodgrass

Emily Bett Rickards

Mildred Burke

Pros & Cons

Emily Bett Rickards is stunning as a woman with an unshakable dream.
Josh Lucas is easy to hate as the man in Mildred’s way.
The set design convincingly puts us in another era.
The wrestling matches are flawlessly constructed.

The first act falls into predictable biopic tropes.
There could have been more scenes involving Mildred and her son.