Ash Avildsen, son of 'Rocky' director John G. Avildsen, helms 'Queen of the Ring,' an overly earnest biopic about trailblazing wrestler Mildred Burke.

Queen of the Ring' is about a pioneer athlete most people have never heard of, Mildred Burke. Burke was a trailblazer in women's pro wrestling.

Josh Lucas, Francesca Eastwood and Deborah Ann Wohl co-star in an arch and inspiring film about athlete Mildred Burke.

The same can’t be said about the big screen. With scattered exceptions – “ . . . All the Marbles” (1981), “Fighting with My Family” (2019), “Racket Girls” (1951), and “Below the Belt” (1980), which features an extended cameo by then-retired wrestler Mildred Burke as a trainer — there’s generally been a dearth of films featuring women wrestlers.

However, before any of these names made their mark, there was Mildred Burke, a female wrestler who rose up in the 1930s and took over wrestling. Mildred Burke combined muscles and strength with beauty and femininity.

Queen of the Ring uses the story of Mildred Burke to expertly explore women's pro wrestling in a time when they weren't allowed in the sport.