January 15 (Thursday)
Punjab Royals vs UP Dominators — Season Opener
The opening bout of PWL 2026 saw Punjab Royals take on UP Dominators in a highly anticipated curtain-raiser. With both sides fielding balanced squads, the opener delivered intensity from the first contest. Punjab Royals showed composure under pressure, executing their match strategy effectively across weight categories.
UP Dominators responded with resilience, pushing several bouts deep and keeping the tie competitive. However, Punjab’s consistency and timely wins proved decisive, allowing the Royals to register the first victory of the season and claim early leadership in the standings.
January 16 (Friday)
Maharashtra Kesari vs Delhi Dangal Warriors
Friday’s first encounter featured Maharashtra Kesari against Delhi Dangal Warriors, a clash defined by physicality and tactical adjustments. Maharashtra relied on aggressive openings and control-based wrestling, while Delhi countered with technical discipline and defensive awareness.
The tie remained closely balanced through the middle contests, but Maharashtra Kesari capitalized on key matchups late in the card to secure a hard-fought win, giving them a strong start to their league campaign.
Punjab Royals vs Haryana Thunders
In the second match of the day, Punjab Royals returned to the mat against Haryana Thunders. Haryana entered determined to bounce back, applying early pressure and forcing Punjab into tight bouts. The Royals, however, maintained their momentum from the opener, showing depth across categories.
Punjab’s ability to convert narrow advantages into wins proved crucial, as they claimed their second victory in as many matches, emerging as the early pace-setters after Week 1’s first two days.
January 17 (Saturday)
UP Dominators vs Tiigers of Mumbai Dangals
Saturday action began with UP Dominators facing Tiigers of Mumbai Dangals. Seeking to recover from their opening loss, UP Dominators approached the tie with renewed urgency. The contest featured several momentum swings, with both teams trading wins across categories.
UP Dominators managed to edge key bouts in the latter stages, allowing them to pick up their first win of the season and re-enter the competition with valuable points.
Delhi Dangal Warriors vs Haryana Thunders
The Week 1 schedule concluded with Delhi Dangal Warriors taking on Haryana Thunders. Both teams were eager to avoid an early slide in the standings, resulting in a tightly contested encounter. Haryana’s strength-based approach was matched by Delhi’s tactical execution, keeping the tie open until the final bouts.
Delhi Dangal Warriors held their nerve in the decisive moments, earning a crucial victory to close the opening week on a positive note.
Week 1 Takeaways
After three days of competition:
- Punjab Royals emerged as early leaders with an unbeaten start
- Maharashtra Kesari and Delhi Dangal Warriors gained important early wins
- UP Dominators recovered momentum with a Saturday victory
- Haryana Thunders remain competitive despite narrow losses
As PWL 2026 moves into Week 2, early patterns are forming, but standings remain tight. With short recovery windows and tactical flexibility already proving vital, the opening week has confirmed that the league stage will be fiercely contested right through to the final round.