You probably haven’t heard the name Mildred Burke lately, but in the 1930s, she was basically the biggest thing on two feet. Now, with the Queen of the Ring movie, we're finally getting a look at the woman who was essentially the first-ever female million-dollar athlete. It’s wild because she did it at a time when women wrestling was literally illegal in most of the United States.
Directed by Ash Avildsen, the film stars Emily Bett Rickards (of Arrow fame) as Mildred. She doesn't just play the role; she disappears into it. Rickards reportedly went through months of physical training to mimic the old-school, "catch-as-catch-can" style that made Burke a legend.
Honestly, the movie is more than just a sports biopic. It’s a messy, gritty look at a single mom from Kansas who refused to stay in the kitchen or behind a typewriter.
The Reality of Mildred Burke's Rise
The film kicks off in Coffeyville, Kansas. Mildred Bliss is a waitress and stenographer scraping by during the Great Depression. Life was hard. She was a single mother to her son, Joe, and the world wasn't exactly handing out opportunities to women like her.
Then she saw a wrestling match.
She was hooked. She walked up to promoter Billy Wolfe (played by Josh Lucas) and asked him to train her. He laughed. He told her she was too small. But Mildred wasn't really the type to take "no" for an answer. She pestered him until he finally let her into the ring with a man, expecting her to get slammed and quit.
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Instead? She pinned him.
That was the start of a career where she wrestled hundreds of men at carnivals because nobody would sanction women's matches. Imagine that for a second. You’re traveling from town to town, taking on blacksmiths and farmers for a $25 prize if they can pin you in ten minutes. Nobody ever did.
Where the Queen of the Ring Movie Meets History
The Queen of the Ring movie pulls a lot of its weight from Jeff Leen’s book, The Queen of the Ring: Sex, Muscles, Diamonds, and the Making of an American Legend. If you want the deep, unfiltered history, that’s the source material you need.
One thing the movie highlights is the complex, often toxic relationship between Mildred and Billy Wolfe. They got married in 1935, but it wasn't exactly a fairytale. Wolfe was a mastermind at promotion, but he was also a serial cheater who tried to control every cent Mildred made.
Real Wrestlers on Screen
To keep things authentic, Avildsen cast actual pro wrestlers in key roles. You’ll spot:
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- Toni Storm (Toni Rossall) as Clara Mortensen, the first champion Mildred has to beat.
- Kamille (Kailey Farmer) as June Byers, Mildred's fierce rival.
- Trinity Fatu (Naomi) as Ethel Johnson.
- Mickie James and Britt Baker in various roles.
Using actual athletes makes the matches look painful and real. There’s no CGI-assisted gymnastics here; it’s heavy, sepia-toned grappling that feels like it was ripped straight out of a 1940s newsreel.
The Controversial "Shoot" Match
If there’s one part of the Queen of the Ring movie that gets people talking, it’s the climax involving June Byers. In 1954, their match became a "shoot"—wrestling lingo for a real fight that isn't scripted.
Mildred was 38 at the time and significantly smaller than Byers. During the match, Mildred’s knee gave out. The referee eventually called the match after over an hour of grappling because the crowd was getting bored and nobody was winning.
The movie gives Mildred a bit more of a "Hollywood" victory here, which is common in biopics, but the real history is much murkier. Byers was Wolfe’s daughter-in-law, and many believe the match was a setup to strip Mildred of her title after she finally left Wolfe for good.
Why This Movie Matters in 2026
It’s easy to look at women’s wrestling today and forget that it was a crime less than a century ago. Mildred Burke didn't just wrestle; she advocated for women of color like Babs Wingo and Ethel Johnson to get into the sport. She was a "foundation-maker," as Emily Bett Rickards put it in interviews.
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The film also features Walton Goggins as Jack Pfefer, adding a layer of sleazy, behind-the-scenes wrestling politics that reminds you how much of a "boys' club" this industry used to be.
Watching Mildred navigate being the highest-paid female athlete in history while still being told she had to "do what I say" by her husband is a gut-punch. It shows that her fiercest battles weren't just on the mat, but in the courtrooms and bedrooms where men tried to own her success.
Key Takeaways for Viewers
- Check out the book: If the movie sparks your interest, Jeff Leen's biography is a must-read for the gritty details that didn't make the theatrical cut.
- Support the athletes: Many of the women in the film are active wrestlers. Watching their current work in AEW or WWE gives you a perspective on the legacy Mildred started.
- Look for the small details: Pay attention to the costumes by Sofija Mesicek. They did a phenomenal job capturing the transition from 1930s grit to 1950s glamour.
The Queen of the Ring movie is now available for streaming on platforms like Prime Video and Apple TV. It’s a 140-minute journey that finally gives Mildred Burke the crown she earned nearly a hundred years ago.
If you're interested in the history of the sport, go back and look at old archives of the NWA (National Wrestling Alliance). Seeing the real footage of Mildred Burke makes you realize just how much she paved the way for every female athlete who came after her. It’s a story about grit, survival, and the refusal to let a dream stay just a dream.
To get the full picture, start by watching the film on your preferred streaming service, then pick up Jeff Leen's biography for the uncensored history of Mildred Burke’s life.