‘Queen of the Ring’ Review
Stars: Emily Bett Rickards, Josh Lucas, Tyler Posey, Francesca Eastwood, Deborah Ann Woll, Cara Buono, Walton Goggins | Written by Ash Avildsen, Alston Ramsay | Directed by Ash Avildsen
For a long time wrestling was something you didn’t tell everyone you watched. Unless you had friends who watched it too. Over the years it has become okay to enjoy the sports entertainment spectacle!
Even more recently, we have seen movies about these larger-than-life characters. We have seen The Claw about the wrestler Baron Von Raschke and The Iron Claw about the life and tragedy of the famed Von Erich family. Now it is time for a new biographical film. And this time it’s for a female superstar – the first million-dollar female wrestler, Queen of the Ring.
The film tells the remarkable true story of Mildred Burke, the first million-dollar female athlete in world history and the longest reigning champion of female wrestling. Based on the book by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jeff Leen, the film follows ‘Millie,’ a young single mother from a small town who defies societal norms by becoming a female pro-wrestler at a time when the sport was illegal across most of the United States. Despite her success throughout the 40s and 50s, Millie’s journey is marked by personal struggles, including raising her son on the road, the tragic death of her wrestling protégé in the ring and a tumultuous relationship with her manager and ex-husband, Billy Wolfe. Her story highlights triumphs such as being the first woman to headline over men, bringing women of colour into the sport, and participating in the first female “shoot match” i.e. real combat without a script for a title fight. Millie’s remarkable tale shattered the limitations of what a girl could become in entertainment and sports and is an unforgettable slice of post-war Americana.
In 2009, Jeff Leen published a Mildred Burke biography entitled ‘The Queen of the Ring: Sex, Muscles, Diamonds, and the Making of an American Legend’. That book is an inspiration for this film.
Queen of the Ring offers a raw, unflinching glimpse into the life of a trailblazing woman who pursued wrestling at a time when it was far from socially accepted. While powerful in its storytelling, the film isn’t without flaws – its pacing occasionally lags, and the heavy inclusion of adult content makes it decidedly unsuitable for family viewing.
Emily Bett Rickards fully embodies Mildred Burke, delivering a performance that anchors the film with grit and authenticity. She’s matched by a strong supporting cast, including Josh Lucas, Tyler Posey, Francesca Eastwood, Deborah Ann Woll, Cara Buono, and Walton Goggins, all of whom add depth and presence to the story.
If you are a fan of sports biographies, wrestling movies or just true-life stories, Queen of the Ring is definitely a film you will want to check out!
**** 4/5
Queen of the Ring is in select UK cinemas now and will be available on digital download from 13th October.
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