Stepping into the ring with confidence, Queen of the Ring brings the compelling story of wrestling pioneer Mildred Burke to the big screen. Directed by Ash Avildsen, the biographical sports drama makes its entrance into theaters this Friday, March 7, 2025, starring Emily Bett Rickards as Burke; a single mother who defied the odds to become the first million-dollar female athlete in a male-dominated sport.
At the heart of the film is Burke’s complicated and toxic relationship with her husband, promoter Billy Wolfe, played by Josh Lucas. Wolfe’s domineering grip on Burke’s career serves as one of the movie’s primary conflicts, painting him as the ultimate philandering pariah both in and out of the ring. However, Burke is never truly alone in her struggle. The film shines in moments where she leans on her team and fellow female wrestlers, whose support and solidarity prove instrumental in helping her rise above adversity.
The ensemble cast delivers standout performances, bringing wrestling’s golden era to life. Francesca Eastwood plays Mae Young, Kamille reprises June Byers, Walton Goggins (a personal favorite of mine) embodies the infamous promoter Jack Pfefer, and Toni Storm steps into the role of Clara Mortensen. Most notably, WWE’s own Trinity Fatu (aka Naomi) portrays Ethel Johnson, and Damaris Lewis takes on the role of Babs Wingo; both groundbreaking Black women in professional wrestling. These two figures played a crucial role in the sport’s evolution, breaking racial and gender barriers in an era when opportunities for women of color were scarce. While Queen of the Ring packs a punch with its depiction of Burke’s journey, it unfortunately fumbles when it comes to fully exploring Johnson and Wingo’s contributions to the wrestling world, missing an opportunity to provide a deeper look into their professional journeys and their relationship with Burke. A more layered exploration of their roles would have added much-needed depth to the narrative, giving the audience a broader perspective on the history of women’s wrestling. Despite this shortfall, the performances remain strong. Rickards delivers a powerhouse portrayal of Burke, perfectly capturing her grit and vulnerability. Lucas is convincingly detestable as Wolfe, making Burke’s eventual triumph all the more satisfying. Fatu and Lewis command attention in their limited screen time, leaving viewers wanting more of their stories. (For those interested, Chris Bournea’s 2020 documentary Lady Wrestler sheds more light on the groundwork Johnson, Wingo, and Marva Scott laid for women in wrestling.)
In the end, Queen of the Ring is a solid biopic that successfully highlights Mildred Burke’s groundbreaking achievements but doesn’t quite go the distance in telling the full story of women’s wrestling, which would have been an added bonus for wrestling fans. Wrestling fans and lovers of inspirational sports dramas will find plenty to enjoy, but for those hoping for a deeper dive into wrestling’s forgotten pioneers, especially Black founding contributors, the film falls just short of the expectation.
That said, this is still a film worth seeing. Wrestling fans, history buffs and those who appreciate a good underdog story should absolutely head to theaters—again this Friday, March 7, 2025—for a slice of wrestling history on the big screen. Even with its missed opportunities, Queen of the Ring delivers an inspiring and entertaining look at a woman who changed the game forever.
Catch Mimi, also known as #TheWrestlingChic, co-hosting #TheBuckle: #TurnbuckleTalk, every Tuesday at 6:35PM ET on X Spaces and Thursday at 8:35PM ET w/the rest of the crew on The Black Rasslin' Podcast on YouTube.
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