LUCKNOW is gearing up to host the freestyle wrestling show, ‘Rannbhoomi 1.0: The Clash of Bahubalis’ from 24 January 2026. Held at the K.D. Singh Babu Stadium to mark Uttar Pradesh Diwas, the event promises to blend sport with entertainment.
Organised by Wrestling World of Bharat (WWB), Rannbhoomi 1.0 aims to re-imagine India’s wrestling culture for a global audience and elevate the nation’s traditional kushti heritage onto the world stage.
Lucknow will host an international line-up of renowned wrestlers including Chris Masters (USA), Joey Legend (Canada), Great Alofa (Samoa/USA), Carlito (Puerto Rico), Zuberi (South Africa), Cowboy J. Storm (USA), and T.J. Tremor (South Africa). Flying the flag for India will be home-grown talent Tiger Rapta and Barood.
The announcement was made on Wednesday at a press conference attended by WWB and Beezer Bonzer World founder Raj Singh; WWP/WAW (South Africa) chairman Mark Beale; World Heavyweight Champion Tiger Rapta; WWB co-founder Anita Singh; and WWB mentor and the Uttar Pradesh Development Council, ASSOCHAM co-chairman Hassan Yaqoob.
Raj Singh said, “This is not just a wrestling show — it’s a mission to revive India’s oldest and most loved sport, wrestling, in a global format. Our goal is to bring our traditional ‘kushti’ heritage to an international platform and showcase India’s true strength through its Bahubalis.”
Beale expressed, “I’ve always wanted to bring professional freestyle wrestling to India. The energy, culture, and passion here are inspiring. This partnership will build a strong bridge between India and the global wrestling community.” He also hailed Tiger Rapta as “a true symbol of India’s pride and power.”
Yaqoob added, “Rannbhoomi 1.0 is not just an event, it’s a defining moment for Uttar Pradesh to project its strength, spirit, and global ambition.”
