Pro Wrestling League 2026 schedule announced; UP Dominators to face Punjab Royals in the season opener

Rakesh Thapliyal

New Delhi: The Pro Wrestling League (PWL) has officially announced the schedule for its much-anticipated fifth season, with the league set to run from January 15 to February 1, 2026, at the Noida Indoor Stadium. The season opener on January 15 will see Punjab Royals take on UP Dominators, setting the tone for a competitive league phase. Marking its return after a comprehensive restructuring, PWL 2026 will feature six franchises competing in a high-intensity league and knockout format, bringing together elite Indian and international wrestling talent under one roof.

All matches of PWL 2026 will be broadcast LIVE on Sony Ten 4 and Sony Ten 5, with coverage beginning at 8:00 PM, while double-header fixtures will start at 6:00 PM, alongside simultaneous live streaming on the Sony LIV digital platform.

The season will feature six franchises, Delhi Dangal Warriors, Haryana Thunders, Tiigers of Mumbai Dangal, Maharashtra Kesari, Punjab Royals and UP Dominators, competing across the league and knockout format. A total of 15 league-stage matches will be played across 13 matchdays, with teams battling in a round-robin format before the top four advance to the semi-finals, scheduled for January 30 and 31, culminating in the PWL 2026 Final on February 1, 2026 (Sunday).

The schedule features back-to-back double-header matchdays on January 16 and 17, 2026. In the first double header, Maharashtra Kesari will face by Delhi Dangal Warriors starting at 6:00 PM, followed by Punjab Royals taking on Haryana Thunders. On January 17, Tiigers of Mumbai will begin their PWL 2026 campaign against UP Dominators at 6:00 PM, followed by Delhi Dangal Warriors taking on Haryana Thunders.

Each league tie will feature nine bouts across weight categories, showcasing a strong mix of Olympic medallists, world champions, emerging Indian stars, and international competitors signed during the record-breaking PWL 2026 auctions. The final league-stage fixture is scheduled for January 29, 2026, where Punjab Royals will take on by Delhi Dangal Warriors. Strategic rest days have been scheduled on January 22 and January 24 to ensure athlete recovery and performance consistency.

Season 5 will showcase elite talent assembled during the recently concluded auctions, which saw franchises spend over ₹11 crore to secure 63 Indian and international wrestlers. Headlining the season is Yui Susaki, the Olympic champion and four-time world champion, who became the most expensive signing in league history after joining Haryana Thunders for ₹60 lakh. Among the men, Robert Baran, a world championship bronze medallist, was signed by Maharashtra Kesari for ₹55 lakh.

Indian stars will play a central role this season, led by Antim Panghal, who joined UP Dominators for ₹52 lakh, and Sujeet Kalkal, the reigning U23 world champion, signed by Delhi Dangal Warriors for the same amount. Aman Sehrawat, India’s Paris Olympic bronze medallist, was picked up by Tiigers of Mumbai Dangal for ₹51 lakh, while Ana Godinez strengthened Punjab Royals’ women’s lineup with a ₹46 lakh signing.

About Pro Wrestling League (PWL)

The Pro Wrestling League (PWL) is India’s premier franchise-based professional wrestling league, sanctioned by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). Established to bridge the gap between traditional grassroots akhadas and elite international competition, PWL provides a structured, world-class platform for Indian and international wrestlers to compete at the highest level.

Ahead of its fifth season, PWL has undergone a comprehensive restructuring under its new ownership and management, with a renewed focus on transparency, professionalism, and long-term sustainability. Operated by ONO Media and led by partners Akhil Gupta and Dayaan Farooqui, the league is committed to building an athlete-first ecosystem that prioritises development pathways, governance alignment, and competitive integrity. With a clear vision to position India as a global hub for wrestling, PWL combines sporting excellence, regional representation, and modern sports management to transform wrestling into a mainstream, future-ready sport in India.