All Elite Wrestling is suing the production company behind Queen of the Ring, alleging that more than $105,000 in sponsorship fees for promoting the film are long overdue.
Ring Productions LLC, the production business behind the movie, signed a sponsorship deal in January 2025, agreeing to pay AEW approximately $350,000. In exchange, Queen of the Ring got sponsored matches on AEW programs, members of the film’s cast shown in the front row on AEW broadcasts, in-arena plays of the movie trailer, AEW talent hyping the film on their social media accounts, among other benefits.
Although Ring Productions paid a total of $250,000 by May 23, 2025, it allegedly failed to meet a February 28 deadline to make that payment. According to the lawsuit, the company still owes a remaining $100,000 in sponsorship fees, plus over $5,000 in contractual talent travel expenses. AEW is also seeking interest on the late payments at a 1.5% monthly interest rate that’s defined in the contract. AEW attached the contract and a related amendment as exhibits to the lawsuit.
The film starred Emily Bett Rickards as Mildred Burke, the pioneering female wrestling star of the 1930s to 1950s. AEW wrestlers Toni Storm (as Clara Mortensen), Kamille (as June Byers), and Britt Baker (as Debbie Nichols) also played roles in the movie. Jim Cornette, Mickie James, and Trinity Fatu appeared in the film as well.
Queen of the Ring was released in March 2025, and was not a box office success. It played in theaters for a few weeks and grossed just $657,718, according to Box Office Mojo, which may explain why the film company is behind on its payments to AEW. The $350,000 invested in promoting the movie with AEW alone is more than half of the film’s gross. Ring Productions COO Paul Leighton and Director of Brand Strategy Josh Eldridge did not respond to a request to provide comments for this article.
The sponsorship agreement between AEW and Ring Productions includes a clause requiring any legal disputes to be resolved through arbitration. This mirrors what’s known about AEW’s talent contracts, reflecting the promotion’s general preference for handling legal matters confidentially rather than in public courts. Given the contract’s language, it’s unclear why AEW filed its claims in open court in Duval County instead of through its arbitration provider, JAMS. AEW media relations did not respond to a request to comment on why AEW took this case to court and not arbitration.
According to the filing, AEW followed up with Ring Productions four times by email between September and December 2025, but those messages went unanswered. AEW’s outside counsel, Gunster Yoakley & Stewart, then got involved. Attorneys from the firm sent a formal notice on March 24, 2026, giving Ring seven days to pay up. The lawsuit claims Leighton acknowledged Ring owed $105,262.51, but that there was no further communication.
If Leighton acknowledged his company owed money to AEW, that admission could be especially helpful to AEW’s case. An email record showing the alleged acknowledgment, however, has yet to be included as an exhibit in the case.
The lawsuit was filed on June 26, 2026, with the Fourth Judicial Circuit in Duval County. AEW is formally headquartered in Jacksonville, which is in Duval County, Florida.
Ring Productions has yet to file a response to the lawsuit. The film company hasn’t been formally served with the lawsuit yet, according to the court docket. After service is completed, Ring will have 20 days to file a response.
