When discussion turns to the greatest female professional wrestlers of all-time, the typical names you hear are The Fabulous Moolah, Mae Young, Rhonda Sing, Wendi Richter, just to name a few. Sadly, too often lost in that conversation is the woman who trained most of the wrestlers I just named; Mildred Burke. A charter member of WWE’s Hall of Fame legacy wing, and a multi-time world champion, Burke is finally getting her moment on the big-screen in Queen of the Ring, a biopic starring Arrow‘s Emily Bett Rickards.
A new trailer for Queen of the Ring has arrived, and it shows the former Felicity Smoak having bulked up for the role of Mildred Burke. Burke’s heyday was from the 1930s to 1950s when she became the first ever million-dollar female athlete and a world champion at a time when wrestling was banned in much of America. The film centers on the Kansas native who took to wrestling quickly under the tutelage of her manager and eventual husband, Billy Wolfe, played by Josh Lucas. In her career, Burke wrestled hundreds of men and rarely lost.
Also in the cast are Francesca Eastwood (as Mae Young), Tyler Posey, Walton Goggins, Marie Avgeropoulos, Adam Devos, Kelli Berglund, Cara Buono, Deborah Ann Woll (as Gladys Wall), Martin Kove (as Al Haft), and Damaris Lewis. WWE superstar Trinity “Naomi” Fatu plays wrestler Ethel Johnson, with AEW superstars Kamille, Toni Storm, and Britt Baker also cast in the film.
This looks like a great role for Rickards, who has been in need of a spotlight feature role like this. It’s also possibly the latest in what has been a trend of great pro wrestling movies. Fingers crossed for this one.
Queen of the Ring is written and directed by Ash Avildsen (American Satan) based on Jeff Leen’s book The Queen of the Ring: Sex, Muscles, Diamonds, and the Making of an American Legend.
Queen of the Ring hits theaters on March 7th 2025.
