Queen of the Ring

Greetings again from the darkness. Even among sports fans and women's activists, Mildred Burke is not a household name. Writer-director Ash Avildsen and co-writer Alston Ramsay set out to correct this by adapting Ms. Burke's own writing and the 2010 book "The Queen of the Ring: Sex, Muscles, Diamonds and the Making of an American Legend" by Jeff Leen. Avildsen is the son of Oscar winning director John Avildsen (ROCKY, 1976; THE KARATE KID, 1982).

Mildred Burke was a three-time World Champion in Women's Wrestling, and the first million dollar female athlete. Her career spanned the 1930's into the 1950's, and the film opens in the ring during the brutal 1954 Women's World Championship match. Rather than finish that match, filmmaker Avildsen holds that until the finale and instead flashes back to Burke's early obsession with her desire to wrestle. Emily Bett Rickards ("Arrow") stars as Mildred, and she possesses the physicality and charm to pull off what we'd expect from a pioneer in women's sports. She displays toughness, determination, and talent in the ring - plus the savvy needed for marketing herself and the sport.

There are some issues with the movie. At times it's difficult to follow the timeline and it is uncomfortably choppy in its storytelling approach. However, the dynamics of this woman and her true story are such that we focus on the good stuff and appreciate her accomplishments. Additionally, there are some strong supporting performances. Josh Lucas plays wrestler Billy Wolfe, who recognizes Mildred's potential and becomes her promoter, her loving husband, her cheating husband, and her business partner. Walton Goggins plays legendary promoter Jack Pfefer, Tyler Posey plays Wolfe's son and Mildred love interest G Bill, Francesca Eastwood (yes, Clint's daughter) plays wrestler Mae Young, Adam Demos plays Mildred's friend and popular wrestler Gorgeous George, and Gavin Casalengo portrays Mildred's son.

We learn her story dates back to a time when many laws prohibited women from wrestling, and Mildred's early opportunities took place at traveling carnivals. Her motivation led to her pledge to her toddler son that they would not live an ordinary life ... and wrestling got her out of the apron at her mom's café. There is an obligatory training montage, and there is even a moment when Mildred's impact is compared to Jackie Robinson breaking the race barrier in baseball. The terrific soundtrack (not quite to the level of AMERICAN GRAFFITTI) helps offset some of the cheesy posing and strutting, even though these were keys in Mildred gaining popularity. Filmmaker Avildsen ends the film with photos and bio profiles on each of the characters as the closing credits begin. It's a fitting end and tribute for those who drove the early days of Women's wrestling.

The film opens in theaters on March 7, 2025.

I watched Queen of the Ring expecting a wrestling movie similar to The Iron Claw. As a wrestling fan, I was excited to see familiar wrestlers' faces I currently watch, but the movie felt rushed. The subpar supporting actors and the hurried storyline made it hard to form an emotional connection with the characters. I'm not familiar with the main character's background, but I wish the film had explored her origins and upbringing in more details. What I enjoyed most was the soundtrack, which set the mood and carried me through the movie, despite its challenges. The main villain, June, was a standout-her minimal dialogue and badass presence were perfection. Overall, the story felt underdeveloped, and with more time, a detailed narrative could have elevated the film significantly.

Ask any reviewer how many sports biopics they have seen and the answer will always be "too many." QUEEN is an ambitious little project, you can tell that by the over-two-hour runtime. The pacing, the script, the editing, everything is just slightly uneven and unpolished. However, to compensate, there is a legitimate sense of fun imbued in the film, something not common in these sorts of tales. Lots of hidden talent both in front of and behind the camera. Emily Bett Rickards will shock her fans from the Arrowverse as she digs into the lead role and gives it everything she has got. Behind the camera is the son of one of America's best-known directors, and playing the "heel" in the story is a young woman with sharply defined features not seen since the days of Clint Eastwood. His daughter, in fact. Entertaining. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Queen of the Ring does deal with a fascinating real-life personality and story, and though all of it is well-performed and shot, the film has a "there's a lot going on" feel to it.. which is true, no doubt. Even at 2h 19m, the film can't put all of its weight behind its storytelling. There were several issues faced by women in (professional?) wrestling, and most of those is put across through one easy-to-hate, misogynistic bully named Billy Wolfe (Josh Lucas does a very decent job). The film, however, will be remembered for Emily Bett Rickards -- what a showstopper she is, bringing so much grit and heart to the titular character!

Mildred Burke's story is brushed over in broad strokes, covering her greatest hits and misses. The more you read about Burke, the less those frequent dissolve transitions start to make sense. This can't be told in a couple of hours, but at least the director's heart is in the right place. It was good to see some actual wrestling personalities in the film -- "Timeless" Toni Storm, Jim Cornette, Naomi, and Kamille play important characters, while legendary names like Gladys Gillem, Mae Young, Jack Pfefer, and Gorgeous George are played by more seasoned actors.

You'll also hear a lot of wrestling terminology and a few celebrated quotes. The film, with its limited budget, succeeds in taking us back to a bygone era with its lighting and aesthetics. The wrestling attire and the actual moves? I'm not so sure. They look a lot more contemporary than they're meant to be. But it's CINEMA after all. And a film about wrestling? I'll always be all eyes and ears!

I used to be a wrestling fan, especially women's wrestling-until I found out it was all scripted. But this movie completely changed my perspective.

The film is incredibly well done. The writing, acting, and pacing are top-notch-there were no boring moments. The story kept moving, and it beautifully introduced all the key characters. I loved that it was based on a true story-that always gets me. To my surprise, I found myself genuinely cheering by the end.

The movie is both inspiring and educational, blending history and sports in a powerful way. It tells the story of Mildred Burke, the first million-dollar female athlete and a true pioneer in wrestling. Her journey is captivating, and the film does justice to her incredible legacy.

If you're a female wrestling fan, or just someone who loves real stories of grit and glory, this movie is a must-watch. It's a brilliant production, and honestly, it might just win you over again-like it did for me.