‘Queen Of The Ring’ Review – Emily Bett Rickards’ Performance Is Like A Stick Of Dynamite

There are very few movies that squeeze as much out of their limited budget while still managing to make you feel the bone-crunching action and give you a behind-the-scenes glimpse at historical trailblazers like Queen of the Ring. The film takes a straightforward approach, reminiscent of the made-for-television, against-all-odds movies that dominated the ’80s and ’90s—now a distant memory.

That may be because filmmaker Ash Avildesn, the son of Academy Award-winning filmmaker John G. Avildsen, who made Rocky and other crowd-pleasing ’80s hits like the first three films of The Karate Kid franchise and the inspiring Morgan Freeman film Lean on Me, knows how to get his audience on their feet, cheering, and riled up. That’s precisely what you get with Queen of the Ring—a bruising sports picture that immerses fans in a high-action athletic spectacle. If only the script’s over-the-top and sometimes cringe-inducing dialogue matched the passion for the project.

Of course, it helps when the star of the show gives a performance that’s like a stick of dynamite.

The story follows Mildred Burke (an electric Emily Bett Rickards), a single mother in Kansas whose big dreams rest, well, squarely inside the squared circle. After a night on the town watching Billy Wolfe (Josh Lucas) win a match on a traveling independent circuit, she runs into Billy and his son (Tyler Posey), begging for a chance to become a star. After a tryout, she scrappily fights to victory over one of Billy’s stable of male fighters, earning herself a seat at the table.

Billy takes Mildred under his wing—and more—as they develop a romance. (Remember, back then, and still in movies today, human resource complaints about office romances weren’t a thing.) However, Mildred frequently catches Billy’s wandering eye. He trained her at a time when women’s matches were illegal and female wrestlers could only compete against male opponents. Of course, when people realize how much money there is to be made, that law quickly goes out the window.

Queen of the Ring has a sense of authenticity, using a handful of known female wrestling stars from promotions like AEW and WWE to bring legends to life. Soon, Billy forms a traveling wrestling troupe full of stars like Mae Young (Francesca Eastwood), Elvira Snodgrass (Marie Avgeropoulos), Gladys Gillem (Daredevil’s Deborah Ann Woll), June Beyers (Kamile), Nell Stewart (Kelli Berglund), Clara Mortensen (Toni Storm), and Ethel Johnson (Trinity Fatu).

Not to mention male figures like Jack Pfeffer (Fallout’s Walton Goggins), and Burke’s clever way of shaping the identity of Gorgeous George (Adam Demos). The traveling roadshow is full of shadowy characters, backroom deals, and handshakes, all while trying to create a secret world behind closed doors. It’s likely made up, but it’s fun either way. For instance, the script doesn’t shy away from the fact that these athletes put on a scripted show. However, they do hold their own grudges and mythical procedures to decide who gets to be the star of the show.

However, that’s the whole point of Queen of the Ring. This isn’t about who wins or loses. It’s about the lights, the glamour, and the action that draw the crowds in. Burke is famous for being the first million-dollar female athlete of her time. To that end, Emily Bett Rickards is dynamite in the role. Perhaps best known for her stint in Arrow, she gives an infectiously entertaining performance here as a woman driven by ambition and success. She fully inhabits the role, making the experience immersive for the viewer, which is the whole point of the sport, displaying the type of tenacity, flair, and grit most performers can only dream of.

Yes, the film tends to get soapy, delving into tongue-in-cheek historical pop-ups for diehard fans. Though it glosses over specific facts, the script also underscores the grit and toughness required to prepare for such battles. Still, the movie captures the essence of the source material, The Queen of the Ring: Sex, Muscles, Diamonds, and the Making of an American Legend by Jeff Leen. This is a story worth telling, even though some cultural and societal obstacles are left behind in the locker room to give the target audience what they want.

Queen of the Ring is currently playing in select theaters courtesy of Sumerian Pictures.