New Delhi, Jan 05th: The auctions for the fifth season of the Pro Wrestling League (PWL), a franchise-based professional wrestling competition sanctioned by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), concluded with individual price-tags breaking all-time records. In the end as the elegant and illustrious Charu Sharma brought the hammer down on the final bid, six franchises had roped in a total of 63 foreign and home grapplers spending in excess of INR 11cr on a chilly Delhi Saturday evening.
Japanese legend Yui Susaki, former Olympic champion, two-time Olympic medalist and a four-time world champion, justifiably received the highest bid of INR 60 lacs, an all-time league record, with Haryana Thunders outbidding Tiigers of Mumbai Dangals for a prize-catch.
Among the men, Polish Super Heavyweight Robert Baran, notched up the highest bid of INR 55 lacs made by Maharshtra Kesari for the world championship bronze medalist. Baran and Susaki were among 16 Olympians picked up by the franchises, three among them Indians.
Antim Panghal, India’s youngest ever female Olympic wrestler and a two-time world championship medalist, attracted the highest bid among home grapplers as the UP Dominators picked her up for INR 52lacs. She was matched by another rising home star Sujeet Kalakal, the reigning 65kg U-23 world champion, who was won by Delhi Dangal Warriors for the same amount. Paris Olympic bronze medalist Aman Sehrawat came close, going to Mumbai for INR 51 lacs.
Ana Godinez, the only Canadian wrestler picked up at the auctions, was signed by Punjab Royals for ₹46 lakh. She emerged as the franchise’s highest purchase and was the third most expensive women’s wrestler at the auctions, behind Yui Susaki and Antim Panghal.
Delighted with the way the auctions played out, Mr. Sanjay Singh, President, WFI, said, “It was heartening to see the deep involvement of the franchises in the bidding process and how well they had done their homework on the wrestlers. Some of the world’s best wrestlers and popular fighters have been roped in for PWL 2026 and we are now even more confident that this league will leave behind all others in reach and popularity. We congratulate our organizing partners for a smooth execution of the auctions and look forward to a festival of wrestling in the national capital region soon.”
Over 250 wrestlers were enlisted for the bidding process and post auctions, 16 nations, including super powers of the sport like Japan, Iran and USA, have found representation in the PWL 2026, scheduled between January 15-February 02, 2026.
Those who have made the final cut include Olympic and world champions, Olympic and world championship medalists, continental champions and even beach wrestling champions. The UP Dominators were the highest spending franchise having exhausted 1.94cr of their INR 2cr purse while Delhi Dangal Warriors had the most amount of INR 22lacs remaining to be spent.
Speaking after the conclusion of the auction, Mr. Akhil Gupta, CEO, PWL, said, “We congratulate all the franchises for their enthusiastic participation and the names that have been picked up promise Indian fans plenty of exciting wrestling action ahead. The most heartening part of the process being that so many young Indian talent will get an international platform to take on the world’s best at home and there is no substitute for this kind of exposure. We thank all our supporters including those in the media for standing by the sport with such energy and passion. We see good times ahead for Indian wrestling.”
Speaking after the conclusion of the auction, Mr. Dayaan Farooqui, Chairman, Pro Wrestling League, said, “The auctions mark an important step in our build-up to the fifth season, with franchises showing clarity, intent and balance in their squad selections. The focus throughout the process was on creating competitive teams while strengthening the pathway for Indian wrestlers to perform at the highest professional level. With a strong mix of experience and emerging talent now in place across teams, we are confident the upcoming season will deliver high-quality wrestling and further strengthen the professional ecosystem around the sport.
New Exciting Format
The PWL has also come out with innovations in the rules which are aimed at making bouts more aggressive and exciting.
To begin with, instead of two rounds of three minutes each, as is the norm in Olympic wrestling, there will be three periods, the first lasting three-minutes, the second two-minutes and the final and third period lasting for one-minute.
The final round, will be known as the Super Round, and each valid point scored in this round will have double its value, ensuring that fighters do not sit on a lead or there is no passivity in the end.
There will be nine bouts across weight categories in each group stage match and in the event of injuries a franchise can call for replacements which the WFI will then provide from a pre-designated pool of wrestlers unsold in the auctions.
PWL Partners
PWL 2026 will be broadcast LIVE on primetime on the Sony Sports Network and top brands who have already come onboard as owners or partners include the likes of EaseMyTrip, the Aspect group, the APCO Group, the CDR Group, Sanraj Group and Rubics Realty among others. Industrialist and Philanthropist Mr. Vikas Parasrampuria, is also on-board as one of the owners.
The six franchises represent India’s strongest wrestling regions, combining deep-rooted sporting traditions with professionally managed ownership groups committed to the growth and commercial sustainability of the sport.
