Over 250 wrestlers to grapple with in star-studded PWL auction on Saturday

Wrestler Antim Panghal.

Rakesh Thapliyal

New Delhi: The Pro Wrestling League (PWL), India’s premier franchise- based professional wrestling league sanctioned by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), is set for a high-profile return to competitive action as over 250 wrestlers go under the hammer at the PWL 2026 player auction scheduled to be held tomorrow (January 3, 2025) in New Delhi. The auction marks a crucial step in the build-up to the league’s fifth season, which resumes after a six-year hiatus.

Wrestlers in the PWL 2026 auction pool have been classified into four categories – A+ (Marquee), A, B, and C – based on performance credentials and international standing. The base prices for these categories have been fixed at 18 lakh for A+ wrestlers, 12 lakh for Category A, 8 lakh for Category B, and 3 lakh for Category C, offering franchises a structured and transparent bidding framework.

The auction pool features a strong mix of elite international competitors and leading Indian wrestlers, including Olympic champions and medalists, World Championship medalists and established stars.

Wrestler Sujeet Kalkal.

Several high-profile names, including the likes of Japanese women’s wrestling legend Yui Susaki, Cuban Paris Olympics silver medalist Yusneylis Guzman Lopez and two-time Olympic medalist Iryna Koliadenko of Ukraine alongside local stars Aman Sehrawat, a Paris Olympics bronze medalist and India’s youngest ever Olympic woman wrestler and two-time World championship medalist Antim Panghal, find place in the A+ category. The A category has the likes of Deepak Punia, a world championship silver medalist and former Commonwealth Games champion and recently crowned U-23 world champion Sujeet Kalkal of India along with four-time world championship medalist Arsen Harutyunyan of Armenia, former Asian Games champion and double world championship medalist Tulga of Mongolia and 2025 world championship bronze medalist Robert Baran of Poland, among others.

Wrestlers in the B category comprise accomplished internationals such as Nigerian women’s wrestling legend and nine-times African champion Odunayo Folasade, Iranian heavyweight Hadi Vafaeipour, Armenian world championship medalist Arman Andreasyan, Mexico’s reigning Pan-American champion Roman Gullermo Bravo Young and Indian women’s wrestling star Anshu Malik.

In the C category, mostly up and coming Indian talent like U-23 Asian champions Jaideep, Chandermohan, Manisha and Priya have found spots alongside internationals like Karla, the reigning Pan-Amrican champion from Canada.

Such a wide array of exciting talent from some of the best wrestling nations in the world is expected to attract significant interest during the bidding process.

The league will operate with a total purse of 12 crore for the season, with each of the six franchises allocated 2 crore to build their squads. Teams will compete across nine weight categories, five men’s and four women’s, reinforcing PWL’s commitment to gender-balanced competition and comprehensive representation across divisions.

Each franchise will be required to assemble a squad comprising a minimum of nine and a maximum of twelve wrestlers, including five men and four women. Of the total squad strength, four wrestlers must be overseas athletes, two men and two women, ensuring a strong international presence across teams. In addition, every squad must include at least one wrestler from Category C, a provision designed to promote emerging talent and broaden competitive opportunities.

With its structured auction system, defined squad regulations, and a deep talent pool, the PWL auction is poised to play a decisive role in shaping team strategies ahead of the 2026 season. The Pro Wrestling League 2026 will be held from January 15 to February 1, 2026, and is expected to deliver high-intensity competition featuring top Indian and international wrestling talent.

The Pro Wrestling League 2026 will be held from January 15 to February 1, 2026, and is expected to deliver high-intensity competition featuring top Indian and international wrestling talent.