New Delhi, Jan 12 (NationPress) The 2026 Pro Wrestling League (PWL) kicks off on January 15, with Punjab Royals set to battle against UP Dominators in the inaugural match. This exciting season will take place at the Noida Indoor Stadium, running from January 15 to February 1. The league has officially unveiled its schedule, promising a thrilling competitive phase.

Following an extensive restructuring, the PWL 2026 will showcase six franchises in a high-stakes league and knockout format, uniting top-tier Indian and international wrestling talent.

The participating franchises this season include Delhi Dangal Warriors, Haryana Thunders, Tiigers of Mumbai Dangal, Maharashtra Kesari, Punjab Royals, and UP Dominators, who will compete through league matches and knockout rounds.

Across 13 matchdays, a total of 15 matches will occur, with teams engaging in a round-robin format before the top four teams progress to the semi-finals, scheduled for January 30 and 31, and the PWL 2026 Final on February 1 (Sunday).

The competition will feature consecutive double-header matchdays on January 16 and 17, where Maharashtra Kesari will take on Delhi Dangal Warriors at 6:00 PM, followed by Punjab Royals against Haryana Thunders. On January 17, Tiigers of Mumbai will launch their campaign against UP Dominators at 6:00 PM, with Delhi Dangal Warriors facing Haryana Thunders thereafter.

Each match will consist of nine bouts across various weight classes, featuring a mix of Olympic medalists, world champions, rising Indian stars, and international competitors acquired during the record-setting PWL 2026 auctions. The final league match is set for January 29, where Punjab Royals will compete against Delhi Dangal Warriors. Rest days have been strategically placed on January 22 and 24 to ensure athlete recuperation and performance consistency.

Season 5 will highlight exceptional talent gathered during the recent auctions, where franchises invested over INR 11 crore to recruit 63 wrestlers from India and abroad. Yui Susaki, an Olympic and four-time world champion, headlines the season as the most expensive signing in league history, joining Haryana Thunders for INR 60 lakh. Among male wrestlers, Robert Baran, a world championship bronze medalist, was acquired by Maharashtra Kesari for INR 55 lakh.

Indian talents will play a pivotal role this season, led by Antim Panghal, who joined UP Dominators for INR 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 medalist, was picked by Tiigers of Mumbai Dangal for INR 51 lakh, while Ana Godinez reinforced Punjab Royals’ women’s squad with a signing of INR 46 lakh.