With the rise of All Elite Wrestling and the resurgence of WWE in the mainstream, pro wrestling might finally be all-around cool again. One particular aspect of growth is in the women’s divisions, particularly in North American wrestling, which was once dominated by “puppies,” strip matches, and casual misogyny. Much progress has been made, but that doesn’t mean we can’t keep learning from our past, as portrayed in the new film Queen of the Ring, telling the story of Mildred Burke.
Burke, the first female million-dollar athlete in America, came up in wrestling in a time where the women’s matches, when actually allowed by state athletic commissions, were sideshow attractions along with the little people and man vs. beast contests. As such, the soundtrack is a throwback on its own, with a host of modern music icons giving their takes on classic rock tunes.
For one, Corey Taylor teams up with Bad Omens for a cover of “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas. This version slows down the tempo of the original and adds some atmospheric strings to add a whole new layer of emotional weight to an already melancholy song. It is a reminder that while Taylor may be best known for his screams in Slipknot, he has ballads like Stone Sour’s “Through Glass” and Slipknot’s “Vermilion Pt. 2” under his belt, and so he’s not above the odd croon here and there.
Elsewhere on the soundtrack, Kittie and DIAMANTE partner up with The Pretty Wild for a take on Metallica’s power ballad “The Unforgiven.” Staying true to the original in key and vibe, this largely acoustic cover is a soulful rendition, the vocal harmonies coming together beautifully. The guitar solo is transposed to violin for that old-school flair, and it makes for a great soundtrack version of the Black Album classic.
Queen of the Ring, written and directed by Sumerian Records head Ash Avildsen, is in theaters now.
