Queen of the Ring
Despite what the WWE may want you to believe, Vince McMahon didn't invent wrestling. He didn't invent women's wrestling. And he sure as hell didn't even the first superstar of women's wrestling. Queen of the Ring examines the life and career of Mildred Burke (Emily Bett Rickards), a single mother chasing a dream who would become the most famous female wrestler in the world at a time the sport was banned in most states.
Starting out at carnivals wrestling men (and beating them), the film follows Mildred's path to stardom including her rocky relationship with partner and husband Billy Wolfe (Josh Lucas) as notorious for his promoting ability as his womanizing and quick temper. Together the two built women's wrestling into an attraction only to have the animosity between them nearly burn it all to the ground.
There's a bit too much plot to fit into a two-hour film (one might even argue enough for an entire mini-series), and writer/director Ash Avildsen does at times struggle to fit it all in. Personally, I would have liked a bit more of Mildred's friendships and fleshing out the other ladies of wrestling, some of whom get moments here and there, but far less than what's devoted to Mildred's tumultuous relationship with Wolfe.
Queen of the Ring is what you would expect from a biopic with the expected dramatic highs and lows, with the occasional dip into melodrama, and a pretty big dose of wrestling. Casting a mix of both wrestlers and actors in the roles, the actors (notably Francesca Eastwood, Marie Avgeropoulos, Deborah Ann Woll, and Damaris Lewis) hold their own in the ring while the likes of Toni Storm and Kamille (as villains Mildred needs to slay) work equally well in and out of the ring as well. A few other notable historical characters appear including Walton Goggins as Jack Pfefer and Adam Demos as Gorgeous George.
Rickards, who many will still best know from her role as Felicity Smoak in Arrow, got into phenomenal shape for the role and it is completely believable she could go toe-to-toe with any of the actual wrestlers starring in the film. Her version of Mildred is easy to root for. Despite her success, somehow Mildred is still an underdog at the end of the film fighting tooth and nail to keep what she's earned in a world full of fragile men not quite ready for a female superstar (the film dubs her the first million dollar female athlete) and certainly not ready for a strong businesswoman. Those looking for a true story of a strong woman, whether they like wrestling or not, could do far worse than Queen of the Ring.
Watch the trailer- Title: Queen of the Ring
- IMDb: link
