Since early last year, work has been underway on Queen of the Ring, a biopic about women’s wrestling pioneer Mildred Burke that is based on Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jeff Leen’s book The Queen of the Ring: Sex, Muscles, Diamonds, and the Making of an American Legend.
Here’s everything you need to know about Mildred Burke’s Biopic Queen of the Ring.
Naomi and Kamille Step Into the Spotlight in Queen of the Ring Trailer Drop
At one point, Liv Morgan and Charlotte Flair from the WWE were cast in the movie as Clara Mortenson and June Byers, respectively. However, they were compelled to leave due to injury, and Toni Storm and Kamille* from AEW took their places. IMDB’s credits page for the Ash Avildsen-directed film features Britt Baker, Mickie James, and Jim Cornette, while Trinity “Naomi” Fatu continues to appear as Ethel Johnson.
Josh Lucas plays her manager Billy Wolfe, Emily Rickards plays Burke, and Walton Goggins plays promoter Jack Pfefer, who is the main character. However, there are a few shots of Kamille, including one of her and Rickards before and during a brutal fight in which they both get bloodied.
When three Black wrestlers and another group, which most likely includes Burke, are having a conversation, we also see and hear Naomi say something about the need to “break down walls in this country.”
Queen of the Ring is described as follows by Variety:
The true story follows Burke as she overcomes extraordinary odds to become the longest-reigning champion and the first million-dollar female athlete during a period when wrestling was prohibited in the majority of America. Notwithstanding her achievements in the 1940s and 1950s, Burke’s path is characterized by personal hardships, such as raising her son while traveling, the untimely death of her wrestling apprentice in the ring, and a turbulent relationship with her manager and ex-husband, Billy Wolfe (Lucas).
The film features Josh Lucas of Sweet Home Alabama, Walton Goggins of The Hateful Eight, Gavin Casalegno of The Summer I Turned Pretty, Tyler Posey of Teen Wolf, Francesca Eastwood of Juror No. 2, Deborah Ann Woll of Daredevil, Cara Buono of Stranger Things, Marie Avgeropoulos of The 100, Kelli Berglund of Heels, Adam Demos of Sex/Life, Martin Kove of Cobra Kai, and Damaris Lewis of BlacKkKlansman.
During a period when wrestling was prohibited in the majority of America, Burke defied extraordinary odds to become the first million-dollar female athlete and the longest-reigning champion.
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Burke’s journey is characterized by personal struggles despite her success in the 1940s and 1950s, such as raising her son while traveling, the untimely death of her wrestling protégé in the ring, and a turbulent relationship with her manager and ex-husband, Billy Wolfe (Lucas).
