PRO WRESTLING LEAGUE (PWL), halted after four seasons due to the Covid19 pandemic, is poised to return in January 2026. This time, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) will directly manage payments to both wrestlers and franchises, aiming to ensure greater financial transparency and stability.
Importantly, the WFI confirmed that wrestlers involved in protests against former president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will not be excluded and are free to enter the auction pool.
Previously, ProSportify held the rights to stage the league in exchange for an annual royalty fee. However, disputes surfaced after several participants reported missing Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) documents, while the WFI alleged unpaid royalty fees. The matter was resolved in June 2022, when the WFI signed a settlement contract with ProSportify to acquire full ownership of the league by paying Rs 30 crore.
WFI President Sanjay Singh said, “All rights have been given to ONO media. We have learnt our lessons from the past, WFI will keep control of the payments. Any one who wants to compete can come forward, no one will face any discrimination.”
PWL CEO Akhil Gupta shared initial league details, noting that the process of finalising six franchises is ongoing. He said, “Since it is first season, we will keep one venue in Delhi and from next season we can take it to other cities. We are still talking to corporates and others to identify franchise while international wrestlers have already been approached.”
The revived league will run for 18 days and feature six teams, each comprising nine wrestlers, including four women. Teams may sign a maximum of five Indian and four overseas athletes. Competition will take place across nine Olympic weight divisions including 57 kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 125 kg and four women’s categories including 53 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 76 kg. Featuring men’s freestyle and women’s events; Greco-Roman wrestling will not be included.
Wrestlers who have secured an international medal this year, an Olympic or Asian Games medal, or a podium finish at the National Championships in the current year will be eligible to participate and may submit their consent to compete in the PWL.
Each franchise will have a purse of Rs 2 crore, with the exact launch date to be confirmed shortly.
