WWE Abandons "Vice City" Trademark to Avoid Clash with Take-Two and GTA 6
The worlds of professional wrestling and blockbuster gaming nearly had an explosive legal collision. While Rockstar Games is busy gearing up for its monumental return to Florida, World Wrestling Entertainment made a surprising foray into Take-Two territory before executing a hasty retreat.
On August 4, 2026, the wrestling promotion formally filed a trademark application for "Vice City" with the USPTO. The filing covered pro wrestling entertainment services, television appearances, and a wide array of branded merchandise.
Lola Vice, Miami Roots, and an Obvious Cultural Overlap
Behind the scenes at WWE, the move was never about challenging gaming franchises, but rather spotlighting the rapid rise of Lola Vice. The Cuban-American wrestler and former MMA fighter hails from Miami, building her in-ring persona around the iconic pastel neon glow of her hometown.
Lola Vice regularly uses the phrase during live broadcasts to hype up the crowd. Securing trademark protection appeared to be standard operating procedure for WWE corporate lawyers looking to capitalize on upcoming apparel and merchandise sales.
Claiming exclusive commercial ownership over the term Vice City in 2026 was always playing with fire. For millions of gamers worldwide, that name remains synonymous with exploring the coastal neon districts of Vice City in GTA, a cultural powerhouse fiercely guarded by Rockstar Games for over twenty years.
The Take-Two Paradox: Trademark Rival and Key Video Game Partner
The trademark overlap quickly ran into a major business complication. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is owned by Take-Two Interactive, a publisher legendary for defending its intellectual property rights aggressively in US federal courts.
More importantly, WWE found itself in an awkward corporate paradox. The exclusive publisher and distributor of WWE's own flagship simulation games on PC and consoles is 2K Games, an operating label of Take-Two Interactive.
Picking a trademark battle with the very business partner powering the lucrative WWE 2K franchise was a fight WWE simply did not need. Company executives recognized that branding a merchandise line was not worth jeopardizing a multi-million-dollar gaming partnership.
USPTO Marks the Filing Dead After Express Withdrawal
Rather than waiting for an official opposition from Take-Two or a formal rejection from trademark examiners, WWE opted for a clean exit. On September 2, 2026, the wrestling powerhouse submitted a request for express abandonment.
Public records from the USPTO updated on September 21, 2026 confirm that the "Vice City" trademark application has been officially marked as dead. Meanwhile, WWE's separate filing for the performer name "Lola Vice" remains fully active and protected.
Lola Vice is still free to use the catchphrase during her televised entrances. When it comes to global trademark rights, Take-Two and Rockstar Games maintain an iron grip on Vice City, proving that some neon streets are strictly off limits.
SEO consultant for over 20 years and digital entrepreneur, Charles 'Grimtag' Ronchain is the founder of Pro-Gamer.gg, Retrocharting.com, and Gamescharting.com. A competitive gamer, streamer, and retro game collector, he has worked in the video game industry for over 15 years, notably as a consultant for leading price comparison platforms. Passionate about real-time performance data and gaming technology, he analyzes competitive esports, gaming hardware benchmarks, and creator workflows on Pro-Gamer.gg with an authentic player perspective.
