Pro Wrestling League Auction: Date, Base Prices of Top Wrestlers Set the Tone for Bidding War for PWL 2026

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New Delhi, Dec 31: The upcoming Pro Wrestling League (PWL) auction promises fireworks as Olympic champions, multiple-time world medallists and India's biggest wrestling stars headline a stacked list ahead of the January 3 auction.

With the league scheduled to run from January 15 to February 1, franchises are set to battle hard for proven pedigree and marquee value.

Six Teams Ready to Compete

Six franchises contesting in the new PWL season are as follows:

1. Haryana Thunders
2. Tigers of Mumbai Dangals
3. Punjab Royals
4. Maharashtra Kesari
5. Delhi Dangal Warriors
6. UP Dominators

When is PWL Auction?

The Pro Wrestling League (PWL) 2026 player auction is scheduled to take place on January 3, marking the formal start of the league's long-awaited new season. The auction is expected to be a high-profile event, with franchises looking to lock in marquee Indian and international wrestlers across weight categories.

Total Players in Each PWL Team

Each of the six franchises will look to blend elite overseas talent with India's strongest wrestlers as they chase the title.

PWL Auction Top Players & Base Prices Revealed

With Olympic medallists, world champions and emerging Indian stars all part of the auction pool, January 3 is set to play a decisive role in shaping team strategies and defining early favourites for the season. The bidding dynamics on the day will not only determine squad balance and star power but also set the competitive tone ahead of the league's return from January 15 to February 1.

Aman Sehrawat Tops Domestic Chart

Paris Olympics bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat enters the auction as the costliest Indian name, setting a base price of ₹18 lakh. The 21-year-old, whose suspension for weight-management issues was recently lifted by the Wrestling Federation of India, has enjoyed a rapid rise, with medals at the Olympics and Asian Games establishing him as one of India's premier freestyle wrestlers.

World and Commonwealth Games medallist Deepak Punia is listed at ₹10 lakh, alongside Commonwealth Games gold medallist Naveen, forming a strong mid-premium domestic bracket. One of the surprises is Sujeet Kalkal, widely regarded as one of India's top current wrestlers, who has entered the auction with a comparatively modest base price of ₹7 lakh, potentially making him a bargain pick.

Foreign Men's Category: Elite Pedigree

The overseas men's list is dominated by world champions and Olympic medallists. Russia's Abasgadzhi Magomedov, a former world and European champion, is priced at ₹10 lakh, joined by Armenia's world medallist Arman Andreasyan and Hungary's Iszmail Muszukajev, the 2023 world champion and Paris Olympics fifth-place finisher.

Also commanding strong interest are Armenia's Arsen Harutyunyan, a multiple-time world and European medallist and Olympian, and Russia's Usmanov Akhmed, the reigning world and European champion-both listed at ₹10 lakh.

Women's Wrestling: Olympic Gold and World Titles in Focus

Among Indian women, world championship medallist Antim Panghal leads the pack with a base price of ₹10 lakh, the highest among domestic women wrestlers. Anshu Malik, working towards a comeback, is also listed in the same bracket. National Games champion Swati Shinde and former world silver medallist Pooja Gahlot are expected to attract competitive bidding.

The foreign women's category is headlined by Olympic royalty. Japan's Yui Susaki, a Tokyo Olympics gold medallist and Paris bronze winner, has set a base price of ₹18 lakh, joint-highest among women. She is joined in that elite bracket by Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, the Paris Olympics silver medallist.

Veteran Ukrainian Oksana Livach, Nigeria's rising star Christinah Tolulope Ogunsanya, Azerbaijan's European and U23 world medallist Elnura Mammadova, Bulgaria's former world champion Bilyana Dudova, Ukraine's Olympic silver medallist Iryna Koliadenko, and Nigeria's multiple-time African champion Odunayo Folasade are all listed at ₹10 lakh, underscoring the depth of elite talent available.

High Stakes Ahead

With Olympic champions, world champions and emerging stars all in the mix, the PWL auction is set to be one of the most competitive in league history. Franchises will weigh star power against squad balance, knowing that proven international pedigree could be the difference-maker in a short, high-intensity season.