After a six-year hiatus, the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) is set for a dramatic relaunch in January 2026, marking the return of India’s only franchise-based wrestling competition.
The announcement by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) signals both optimism and risk: a chance to revive a once-successful league but under the cloud of ongoing governance and credibility challenges.
Dubbed informally as PWL 2.0, the reboot will feature six city-based franchises competing across nine Olympic weight categories. The event will be hosted entirely in New Delhi, running for 18 days at the IG Stadium, with both men’s freestyle and women’s divisions on the card.
The original Pro Wrestling League, launched in 2015, was widely hailed as a pioneering effort that brought India’s Olympic sport to a mainstream audience. The format combined Indian and international talent and produced four successful seasons before coming to an abrupt halt in 2019. While the suspension was initially blamed on the COVID-19 pandemic, the real issues lay deeper: financial mismanagement, royalty disputes, and payment irregularities between WFI and its then-commercial partner, ProSportify.
In 2022, WFI moved to fix those flaws by buying back full ownership of the league for ₹30 crore, ending ProSportify’s rights and taking full control of both the intellectual property and financial operations. That step now serves as the foundation for PWL’s revival.
Under the new model, WFI will operate the league directly, with ONO Media, led by Dayaan Farooqui, appointed as the official promoter and event manager. This arrangement introduces a Direct Payment Mechanism (DPM) a key reform under which WFI, not the promoter, will handle all payments directly to wrestlers and franchises to ensure transparency.
New Structure, Familiar Aspirations
The 2026 season will feature six franchises, each assembling a roster of nine wrestlers five Indians and four internationals. Every tie will feature nine bouts: five men’s and four women’s.
WFI announces 9 weight categories for the upcoming Pro Wrestling League!
Freestyle Wrestling:
57kg | 65kg | 74kg | 86kg | 125kg
Women’s Wrestling:
53kg | 57kg | 62kg | 76kg
The weight classes will mirror Olympic freestyle divisions but with a 5:4 gender split, omitting Greco-Roman wrestling entirely. The focus, officials said, is on “commercially engaging styles” that appeal to television audiences. Each team will have an auction purse of ₹2 crore, a figure intended to enforce financial discipline but also one that may limit the ability to attract world-class talent. In contrast, leagues like the Women’s Premier League (cricket) operate with budgets nearly seven times higher.
Given the constraints, franchises are expected to focus on India’s emerging stars rather than elite global Olympians. The league aims to showcase the next generation of Indian wrestlers such as Antim Panghal (53kg), Priya Malik (76kg), and Sujeet Kalkal (65kg) all of whom have been medalists in 2025’s Ranking Series and U20 Championships.
While the financial and structural changes make PWL 2.0 more secure than its predecessor, the relaunch event exposed unresolved governance tensions within the WFI. Former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who remains under investigation for sexual harassment allegations, appeared as a “guest of honour” at the league’s relaunch alongside his son, Karan Bhushan Singh.
Though WFI President Sanjay Kumar Singh a close associate of Brij Bhushan emphasized that all wrestlers, including those who protested against the former chief, are welcome in the league, the optics told a different story. Brij Bhushan dominated the press conference, with the current administration openly referring to him as the league’s “blessing and founder.”
This visible influence has raised deep concerns among wrestlers and stakeholders. Prominent names such as Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, who led the 2023 protest movement against Brij Bhushan, are unlikely to participate in a league where he continues to exert symbolic authority. Their absence and the potential of a broader athlete boycott — threatens to undercut both the competitive and marketing strength of PWL 2.0.
Operational and Financial Challenges Ahead
Beyond governance, the league faces operational hurdles.
To mitigate the risk, WFI has restricted the first season to a single city a cost-effective decision that reduces travel and scheduling complexity. But the success of this condensed 18-day season will depend on ONO Media’s ability to deliver a high-quality viewer experience and attract credible sponsorships.
Financially, the ₹2 crore team purse could become both a safeguard and a limitation. While it prevents overspending a major flaw in PWL 1.0 it also constrains star power. For context, global wrestling leagues and international contracts for Olympic medalists can range from $100,000 to $250,000 per season, meaning many top-tier athletes will remain out of reach.
The Risks and Rewards of Revival
Three main risks define the PWL 2.0 project:
1.Reputational Risk (High): The presence of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh continues to erode the WFI’s credibility. Sponsors seeking clean brand alignments are likely to hesitate, given the ethical and political overhang.
2.Financial Viability (Moderate): While the WFI’s direct payment system ensures transparency, the modest purse and absence of global stars may limit mainstream viewer appeal, especially beyond wrestling’s core audience.
3.Operational Execution (Moderate): ONO Media’s inexperience could pose logistical challenges. However, the single-venue setup provides a manageable test run for the new format.
Despite these risks, PWL 2.0 does have notable strengths. The WFI’s assumption of full ownership and financial control addresses the structural flaws that doomed its first iteration. The league also aligns with a growing appetite for Indian-origin sports properties and localized entertainment if managed with integrity and professionalism.
For Indian wrestling, the PWL relaunch represents both opportunity and reckoning. If successful, it could re-establish the league as a vital platform for developing and commercializing wrestling talent especially among women and youth.
But success will depend on more than financial stability; it will hinge on whether the WFI can truly separate the league’s identity from its controversial past. Until that separation is achieved, PWL’s second coming may carry the same baggage that led to its downfall six years ago.
As one wrestling official aptly put it, “The financial structure looks stronger, but the moral foundation remains fragile. The question is not whether PWL can return but whether it can be trusted again.”
Key Details – PWL 2.0 Structure (2026):
- Launch: January 2026 (18 days, Delhi)
- Franchises: 6 city-based teams
- Wrestlers per team: 9 (5 Indian, 4 foreign)
- Styles: Freestyle (Men and Women only)
- Auction Purse: ₹2 crore per team
- Organizer: ONO Media
- Financial Oversight: Direct Payment Mechanism by WFI
