The Pro Wrestling League (PWL) is set to return after a six-year hiatus with grapplers from all around the world ready to compete in one of the prestigious events of the sport.
The tournament will be held from January 15 to February 1 at the Noida Indoor Stadium, with teams competing across five men’s and four women’s weight categories.
The player auctions for its fifth season concluded on January 3 in New Delhi, setting new benchmarks in bidding intensity, player valuations and global participation.
All the six franchises spent over ₹11 crore to shape squads for Pro Wrestling League 2026, snapping up 63 wrestlers from a pool of more than 250 athletes representing 16 nations, including wrestling powerhouses such as Japan, Iran and the USA.
Each franchise operated with a ₹2 crore purse and had to build a squad of 9 to 12 wrestlers, comprising five men and four women, across nine weight categories. Every team was required to sign four overseas wrestlers (two men and two women) and at least one Category C athlete, a rule that influenced late-stage strategy.
Japanese icon Yui Susaki, a former Olympic champion, two-time Olympic medallist and four-time world champion, became the highest-paid wrestler in PWL history, commanding a staggering ₹60 lakh from Haryana Thunders after an intense duel with Punjab Royals.
Among the men, Poland’s super-heavyweight Robert Baran (125kg) emerged as the most expensive buy, with Maharashtra Kesari shelling out ₹55 lakh for the world championship bronze medallist.
Antim Panghal, India’s youngest-ever Olympic wrestler and a two-time world championship medallist, fetched ₹52 lakh from UP Dominators, while Sujeet Kalkal, the reigning U23 world champion in the 65kg category, was picked up by Delhi Dangal Warriors for the same amount after a dramatic late bidding war.
Paris Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat (57kg) went to Tigers of Mumbai Dangals for ₹51 lakh, underlining the premium placed reveals for proven Indian talent.
UP Dominators emerged as the highest spending franchise, using ₹1.94 crore of their purse, while Delhi Dangal Warriors finished with the most remaining balance at ₹22 lakh. A total of 16 Olympians, including three Indians, were signed across franchises.
Also Read: Pro Wrestling League 2026: Full List Of Sold Players
Pro Wrestling League 2026- Top 5 Most Expensive Players (Men)
| Name | Team | Weight Catgeory | Price (INR) |
| Robert Baran (Poland) | Maharashtra Kesari | 125 | 55 lakh |
| Sujeet Kalkal (India) | Delhi Dangal Warriors | 65 | 52 lakh |
| Aman Sehrawat (India) | Tiigers of Mumbai Dangals | 57 | 51 lakh |
| Dinesh Gulia (India) | Punjab Royals | 125 | 36 lakh |
| Naveen (India) | Tiigers of Mumbai Dangals | 74 | 34.5 lakh |
Pro Wrestling League 2026- Top 5 Most Expensive Players (Women)
| Name | Team | Weight Catgeory | Price (INR) |
| Yui Susaki (Japan) | Haryana Thunders | 50 | 60 lakh |
| Antim Phangal (India) | UP Dominators | 53 | 52 lakh |
| Ana Godinez (Puerto Rico) | Punjab Royals | 62 | 46 lakh |
| Bilyana Dudova | Maharashtra Kesari | 57 | 30 |
| Anastasiya Alpayeva (Azerbaijan) | Delhi Dangal Warriors | 76 | 27 lakh |
