This week on The Popcorn Hour, Matt and James step into the squared circle for a wrestling double feature — two films that take very different approaches to the pain, spectacle, and legacy of professional wrestling. First up is Queen of the Ring (2024), Ash Avildsen’s biographical drama about Mildred Burke, the first million-dollar female athlete in U.S. history and a trailblazer for women’s wrestling. We unpack Emily Bett Rickards’ performance as Burke, the film’s gritty portrayal of her rise, and how it balances inspirational sports drama with the darker realities of life inside the ring. We also touch on the film’s mixed critical reception, its controversial release journey, and whether it earns its place as a fresh wrestling biopic or stumbles into familiar tropes. Then we turn to A24’s The Iron Claw (2023), Sean Durkin’s heartbreaking chronicle of the Von Erich family — one of wrestling’s most tragic dynasties. With powerhouse performances from Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, and Holt McCallany, this film doesn’t just explore the triumphs of the ring but digs deep into themes of family, trauma, and sacrifice. We break down its emotional impact, how it frames wrestling as both an escape and a curse, and why it’s become one of A24’s most talked-about dramas. Along the way, we compare the two films — one about a pioneering woman who built wrestling’s future, the other about a family consumed by its past. Together, they show wrestling as more than spectacle: it’s a story about ambition, resilience, and the cost of glory.