Please note this article will contain spoilers from the Queen of the Ring film.
Queen of the Ring was released in theaters on March 7 and if you are a women’s wrestling fan, you should go ahead and watch this film. The film is a biopic of Mildred Burke. She is known as the first woman athlete to make over a million dollars in history. This accolade is astonishing considering during her time in the male-dominated sport, women’s wrestling was illegal throughout the United States.
The story starts out with Burke, played by Emily Bett Rickards (Arrow, The Flash), working in a diner with her mother who owned it. Burke is a single mother with a baby named Joe. She goes to a wrestling event featuring Billy Wolfe (Josh Lucas: Sweet Home Alabama, American Psycho, Yellowstone) where she continues to approach Wolfe about becoming a wrestler. Wolfe originally laughs at this idea but gives her a try out anyway. Her tryout was against a man as Wolfe indicated that nobody wanted to see a woman wrestle another woman. Burke proved herself to Wolfe and the training began. She went on tour with Wolfe and his grown son G. Bill (Tyler Posey: Teen Wolf, Truth or Dare), who would go on to propose to her, as a carnival attraction. The film touches on the dynamics between babyfaces vs. heels, kayfabe, shoots, and other aspects of the wrestling industry. Wolfe would go on to become Burke’s manager.
Burke’s first female opponent, still on the carnival circuit, was June Byers (Kamille credited as Kailey Farmer). The match turned into a shoot when Byers attacked Burke post-match and almost broke her leg. Burke felt that Wolfe was the man for her, not just inside the ring, but out. However, that didn’t pan out as she thought. Wolfe would go on to cheat on Burke with Elvira Snodgrass (Marie Avgeropoulos: I Love You, Beth Cooper, The 100), which made her walk away from him initially. He also proved his character as he fancied each new woman that he put up on a pedestal as he did with Burke initially. Burke would return to Wolfe on a strictly professional relationship until they did get married (again just for show and so that Burke could protect her assets).
Burke’s first big match was against Clara Mortensen (Toni Storm credited as Toni Rossall). She would go on to meet Mae Young (Francesca Eastwood: Awake, Old) who became her closest friend along with Snodgrass. As word got out about Wolfe, more women’s wrestlers would approach him. This included Gladys Gillem (Deborah Ann Woll: Escape Room, Daredevil), Nell Stewart (Kelli Berglund: Heels, Animal Kingdom), and the trio of Babs Wingo (Damaris Lewis: BlacKkKlansman, Pose), Ethel Johnson (Naomi credited as Trinity Fatu), and Marva Scott (Cameren Jackson: They Devour). Burke would eventually divorce Wolfe, which screws her over money wise. She decides to go at it alone.
The film culminates to a match between Burke and Byers. At this time, Burke’s son Joe (Gavin Casalegno: The Summer I Turned Pretty) is of teenage years and her manager, along with Mae Young. Byers has become the top bill for Wolfe.
I highly suggest going to check out this film. It won’t break any records at the box office, but it is a niche film for us who love women’s wrestling. The whole cast did a phenomenal job telling Burke’s story. It brought out the emotions in me as a women’s wrestling fan.
If you are curious how much airtime the professional women’s wrestlers get, I have listed that below.
Mickie James as Fabulous Moolah and Britt Baker as Debbie Nichols – If you blink you will miss them. In fact, I did. I have no idea when they were in this movie and that may be in part of leaving the film for about five minutes to get some refreshments. They may have appeared in that moment.
Naomi as Ethel Johnson – Her part was small, but it was fun to see her. She had dialogue as small as it was, but she maybe was in the movie for five minutes.
Toni Storm as Clara Mortensen – She had about ten to fifteen minutes of the movie as her match with Burke was substantial towards the beginning of the film.
Kamille as June Byers – She was in the movie the most and a main plot and subject of the film. She excelled in this role as it was very close to her role in wrestling.
