Joey’s Iconic Kicks Get Their Own Card, Plus a Limited-Edition “Red-Eyes Black Dragon” Promo!

Yu-Gi-Oh!, the legendary series that debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1996 and has captivated fans worldwide with its anime and trading card game, is launching a massive new collaboration.

On 12th September 2025, Nike is dropping the “Air Muscle,” the iconic sneakers famously worn in the series by Joey Wheeler (Katsuya Jonouchi). What’s more, in a first-ever team-up, Konami and Nike are bundling an exclusive Yu-Gi-Oh! OCG card with the sneakers. This makes it a can’t-miss collab for sneakerheads, fans of the original manga, and Yu-Gi-Oh! OCG players alike.

We’ve compiled all the details on these collab cards, including the scoop on a special promo card featuring Joey’s ace monster, Red-Eyes Black Dragon. Be sure to check it out.

What Exactly Are the “Air Muscles”?

via：SBD

For those who don’t know, Joey Wheeler is the loyal best friend of the series’ protagonist, Yugi Muto. Fans have watched him grow from a hot-headed brawler into a passionate Duelist, beloved for his fierce loyalty.

via：Amazon

Throughout the series, Joey is almost always seen wearing the “Air Muscles,” a pair of fictional kicks. It’s been a long-held fan theory that they were directly inspired by Nike’s real-world Air Max series, specifically the groundbreaking “Air Max 95” that debuted in 1995, given the similar design and color blocking. You can even spot Joey rocking them on the cover of the original manga’s Volume 4.

The “Air Muscles” first appeared in Volume 2, in the “Poison Man” story arc. Joey spots the sneakers at “Junkie Scorpion,” a sneaker shop in a back alley. After winning them from the owner in a nerve-wracking gamble, his victory is short-lived. Just 300 meters down the street, he’s ambushed by a gang organized by the owner in a brutal “Air Muscle hunting”—a sneaker mugging.

Enraged, Yugi confronts the owner and challenges him to a “Shadow Game” to win them back. After Yugi succeeds, Joey is so moved by his friend’s courage that he wears those same “Air Muscles” until their high school graduation, cementing them as a powerful symbol of their friendship.

The Promo Cards “WINDS OF VICTORY” & “Poison Scorpion Trap” and Their Connection to Joey Wheeler.

WINDS OF VICTORY

・Effect: The equipped monster gains 300 ATK and becomes WIND Attribute.

This card is a direct callback to the manga. The 300 ATK boost references the “300 meters” Joey walked before he was mugged. The WIND Attribute is a clever nod to the “Air” in the sneaker’s name.

Poison Scorpion Trap

・Effect: When an opponent’s monster declares a direct attack: Destroy that monster, then inflict 300 effect damage to your opponent.

The card art depicts the “Shadow Game” Yugi played to win back the shoes. The game involved pulling 10 coins from one of the sneakers, which also contained the owner’s venomous pet scorpion. The owner tried to cheat by stabbing a knife into the shoe to kill the scorpion, but his fist, clutching the coins, got stuck. The scorpion (which survived) stung him. This card’s effect mirrors that moment: the “direct attack” (the owner’s knife stab) is negated, and the opponent (the owner) takes damage (the poison).

The Ultimate Prize: A Limited Nike x “Red-Eyes Black Dragon” Card!

The collaboration doesn’t stop at sneakers. A full apparel line centered around Joey’s ace monster, Red-Eyes Black Dragon, is also being released.

(Check out the “Red-Eyes Black Dragon” apparel line here!)

But the main event for TCG players is the hyper-limited promo card. An exclusive Nike-collab version of Red-Eyes Black Dragon [NKC1-EN002] will be given away as an admission bonus at the “House of Duel – Domino City Duel Terminal” (Dōshinō-chō Kettō Yūgikan), a special pop-up event held in Harajuku for three days starting 5th September.This card is reportedly being distributed as a set with the 8th September issue of Jump magazine, which features the collab’s art on its back cover.

Popular “Red-Eyes Black Dragon” Cards

Release Information

Product Name: Yu-Gi-Oh! × Nike Air Max 95 “Air Muscle/Jonouchi” (Japan Exclusive)

Release Date: Friday, 12th September 2025

Price: JPY 27,060 (tax incl.)

Official Site: [Raffle] House of Duel – Domino City Duel Terminal (Air Max 95 QS YGO / Apparel Purchase Application)

Product Name: Yu-Gi-Oh! × Nike Air Max 95 QS “Air Muscle/Joey”

Release Date: Friday, 12th September 2025

Price: JPY 27,060 (tax incl.)

Official Site: [Nike Official] Nike Air Max 95 QS YGO ‘Joey’ (II7404-400 / NIKE AIR MUSCLE 95 QS YGO). Nike SNKRS

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