The heroine of Heels transforms into a great wrestling movie villain

Kelli Berglund, who plays heroic pro wrestling champion Crystal Tyler in the Netflix series Jumpturns into a villainous fighter in Queen of the Ring. Written and directed by Ash Avildsen, Queen of the Ring is an upcoming film chronicling the life and career of Mildred Burke (Emily Bett Rickards), the first million-dollar professional wrestler who was a star in the 1940s and 1950s. I was delighted to display Queen of the Ring at the Newport Beach Film Festivaland it’s a fascinating and exhilarating pro wrestling biopic with a stellar cast from top to bottom.

In JumpCrystal Tyler is the underdog female star of the Duffy Wrestling League (DWL) run by Jack Spade (Stephen Amell). Crystal struggles to transition from her role as Ace Spade’s (Alexander Ludwig) valet to a legitimate professional wrestler, spearheading the creation of the DWL’s women’s division. In Jump In Season 2, Crystal is elevated to DWL Women’s Champion, and Tyler becomes a standout whose star power is coveted by rival promoter Charlie Gully (Mike O’Malley) of Florida Wrestling Dystopia. Ambitious Crystal remains sensible and admirableeven in the seedy world of regional professional wrestling.

Heels Hero Kelli Berglund Plays a Wrestling Villain in Queen Of The Ring

Berglund plays Nell Stewart, “The Alabama Killer”

After finishing filming for Jump In Season 2, Kelli Berglund took on another role as a very different professional wrestler. In Queen of the Ring, Berglund was cast as Nell Stewart, one of Mildred Burke’s main rivals. Known as “The Alabama Assassin”, Stewart becomes the lover of prosecutor Billy Wolfe (Josh Lucas), who is married to Burke. Stewart is famous for her Hollywood star glamour, and Nell competes for the women’s championship held by Burke, under Wolfe’s guidance.

Kelli Berglund’s training and the credibility she gained playing Crystal Tyler in Jump translates perfectly into Queen of the Ring. Nell Stewart was raised to have movie star beauty, which Berglund brings in spades, but she’s also tough as nails in the ring. Crystal is a charismatic person who flies high Jumpbut professional wrestling in the 1950s was a very different style, and Berglund makes Nell instantly believable. Ultimately, Nell ends up with Billy Wolfe, and Mildred Burke’s ultimate rival in the ring is the imposing June Byers (Kailey Latimer, who is the real-life “Brickhouse” Kamille in All Elite Wrestling).

Kelli Burgland’s Crystal Also Plays a High-Heeled Villain in Season 2

Crystal pretends to connect Jack Spade and the DWL

Jump Season 2 toys featuring Crystal Tyler’s heroic personality, allowing Kelli Berglund to showcase new shades of Crystal in the ring and cutting promos on the microphone. Jump Season 2 accelerates the rivalry between DWL and Florida Wrestling Dystopia as the two leagues work together on an interpromotional storyline. Crystal turns on Jack Spade and the DWL and joins the FWD, and Berglund has a lot of fun bringing out a devious side to Crystal. Jump It’s no secret that Crystal is a shooting star, and that’s due to Kelli Berglund’s winning charisma and authenticity, which we hope continues if Netflix renews Jump for season 3.

Queen of the Ring is packed with fantastic actors, including real-life professional wrestlers like Kailey (Kamille) Latimer and Toni (Toni Storm) Rossal, as well as cameos from AEW’s Dr. Britt Baker and WWE’s Trinity (Naomi) Fatu. Queen of the RingThe all-female cast led by Emily Bett Rickards is perfectly convincing as professional wrestlers rising from the carnivals of the Midwest to the biggest arenas of New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Queen of the Ring hits theaters in 2025and the audience can appreciate how Kelli Berglund goes from Jump‘ Crystal Tyler in the villainous “Alabama Killer” Nell Stewart.