WWE’s effort to secure a trademark for the term “Vice City” has been withdrawn, ending a filing that appeared to be connected to newly promoted Raw star Lola Vice.
The application is no longer active as of September 21. A notice listed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office states: “The owner of the trademark application withdrew (e.g., abandoned) the application and the application is no longer active.”
WWE had moved to file for the “Vice City” name last month, shortly before Vice’s main-roster arrival became official. The timing naturally made the phrase seem like a potential piece of branding for the performer, whose WWE name already incorporates “Vice.” However, the company has not publicly identified how it intended to use the term, and there is no confirmed explanation for the decision to abandon the application.
The development comes at a significant moment for Vice, who has quickly been positioned as a major part of the women’s division on Raw. She officially joined the red brand on the most recent episode of Raw after building momentum during her time in NXT.
For more background on this topic, read Cal Bloom Confirmed for AJPW Debut, Joining HAVOC at Korakuen Hall.
‘Vice City’ Application No Longer Active
Trademark filings are frequently monitored in professional wrestling because they can offer an early indication of possible character names, event concepts, merchandise lines, slogans, or other branding plans. They do not, however, guarantee that a proposed name or concept will appear on television.
In this case, WWE’s withdrawal means that the “Vice City” application will not continue through the active registration process. The USPTO notice confirms the status change, but it does not provide a reason for it. WWE has not announced whether it still has plans to use “Vice City” in any capacity related to Lola Vice or another project.
“Vice City” is a phrase with extensive pop-culture recognition outside wrestling. It is closely associated with Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, the 2002 video game in the Grand Theft Auto franchise. That connection has led to speculation about whether the existing association may have played a role in WWE withdrawing its filing, but that remains unconfirmed.
It is important to separate the known facts from assumptions surrounding the move. WWE did apply for the phrase, the filing has now been withdrawn, and Lola Vice has recently arrived on Raw. Beyond those points, there is no public confirmation that the filing was specifically planned as her official nickname, entrance branding, merchandise identity, or faction-related concept. There is also no verified indication that the Grand Theft Auto connection was responsible for the application being abandoned.
For now, Vice remains known on WWE programming as Lola Vice, and her on-screen trajectory is much clearer than the status of the proposed trademark. Her first major Raw opportunity has already produced a place in one of WWE’s upcoming marquee matches.
Lola Vice Earns Money in the Bank Opportunity
Vice made her Raw in-ring debut last week in a Women’s Money in the Bank qualifying match. She defeated Kelani Jordan and Raquel Rodriguez to secure her place in the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
The victory immediately established the Raw newcomer as a contender in the division. Winning a multi-person qualifier over Jordan and Rodriguez gave Vice a fast route to a career-altering opportunity, with the Money in the Bank contract traditionally offering its holder a championship match at the time of their choosing.
Vice is set to compete in the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match at WWE Money in the Bank 2026 on October 10. The event will take place at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
At present, Vice is confirmed for the ladder match alongside Sol Ruca, Jacy Jayne, and Roxanne Perez. Two additional spots in the match are still to be determined, leaving the final field unfinished as WWE continues its qualifying process.
The match represents a particularly notable test for Vice following her transition from NXT to Raw. Money in the Bank bouts are among WWE’s most physically demanding matches, requiring competitors to navigate multiple opponents, ladders, and the pressure attached to a contract that can reshape the championship picture. For a wrestler making an early impression on a new brand, simply qualifying places Vice in a prominent spotlight.
It also gives WWE an opportunity to further define Vice’s main-roster presentation. A trademark filing can suggest that a company is exploring potential layers for a character’s identity, but the in-ring booking and television portrayal remain far more meaningful indicators of a performer’s direction. Vice’s qualification victory and placement in the ladder match show that she is being given a high-profile platform regardless of what becomes of the “Vice City” phrase.
A Fast Start on Raw
Vice’s official addition to Raw came on the latest episode of the program, while her first match for the brand had already resulted in a major win. That sequence has given her a quick start rather than a gradual introduction, placing her directly into the Money in the Bank picture.
There is still plenty that is unknown about how WWE will frame Vice in the weeks ahead. The withdrawn trademark removes one possible branding avenue, at least in its current filing form, but it does not establish that WWE has changed its plans for the wrestler herself. Companies abandon, revise, or replace trademark applications for numerous reasons, and a filing’s status alone does not define a talent’s creative outlook.
What can be said is that the “Vice City” name is not moving forward under the application WWE filed last month. The filing’s current status is withdrawn, with the USPTO describing it as no longer active. There has been no official statement tying that decision to the better-known use of the phrase in the Grand Theft Auto franchise or to any other specific issue.
Vice’s immediate focus will instead be on the match in New Orleans. The Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match already includes a group of competitors with differing styles and experience levels, and the two remaining entrants will further shape the challenge. Vice enters after defeating Jordan and Rodriguez, a result that gives her momentum heading into the premium live event.
Money in the Bank 2026 Details
WWE Money in the Bank takes place on October 10 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The event will air live on the ESPN App in the United States and on Netflix internationally.
For Lola Vice, the show provides a chance to turn a successful Raw debut stretch into one of the biggest victories available in WWE’s women’s division. The brief “Vice City” trademark story may remain unresolved publicly, but there is no uncertainty about her next major assignment: she is headed to New Orleans with a place in the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match on the line.
Whether WWE eventually introduces a different supplemental nickname or branding concept for Vice remains to be seen. At this stage, the only confirmed change is the withdrawal of the “Vice City” application. On screen, Vice’s rise continues with a Money in the Bank opportunity that could significantly elevate her standing on Raw.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.