Why Is Nike Retroing Its Most Expensive Grail Sneakers? | The Complex Sneakers Show

The Wu-Tang x Nike Dunks are releasing for the first time ever. The “Galaxy” Foamposites are coming back. It even looks like the Undefeated x Air Jordan 4 grails are retroing next year. Why is Nike scrambling to drop so much heat? And should the brand show any restraint when it comes to bringing sneakers back out? Should certain sneakers remain in the vault? Co-hosts Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty discuss these questions in this latest episode, and try to situate the decisions with respect to Nike’s current financial woes. Also, the trio talk “Pink Diamond” SB Dunks and pays tribute to the late reseller Upscale Cracc.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - 01:30: Host intros
01:30 - 03:08: Rest In Peace Upscale Cracc
03:09 - 08:29: Dunne's Trip To London / Hard To Find Sneakers
08:30 - 13:11: Tekken 8 x Nike Foamposites Dropping
13:12 - 24:03: Pink Diamond SB Dunks Revealed?
24:04 - 26:20: Sneaker Cam
26:21 - 34:55: Wu-Tang Dunks Returning
34:56 - 42:30 - Galaxy Foams And Other Retro Examples
42:31 - 48:52: Nike's Financial Status Playing A Role
48:53 - 51:25: What Shoes Should Retro?
51:26 - 59:50: What Shoes Not To Retro?
59:51 - 01:02:41: Shoes Coming Out This Weekend
1:02:42 - 01:06:30: Welty's Fit / Outro
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COMPLEX is a community of creators and curators, armed with the Internet, committed to surfacing and sharing the voices and conversations that define our new America. Our videos exemplify convergence culture, exploring topics that include music, sneakers, style, sports, and pop culture through original shows and Complex News segments. Featuring your favorite celebrities, authoritative commentary, and a unique voice, our videos make culture pop.

[@Complex]

If you could retro any Nike sneaker, what would it be?

[@HeylookitsElias76]

Atoms x Nike Air Max 90 Tiger Camo

[@Sneaky_freek]

KAWS AM90 current (black ones)

[@gulslatem]

Nike Decade from Heaven's Gate.

[@torosammy]

Already happened, TS AF1 was always a grail and was thought to be unobtainable and they ended up dropping and I secured with ease and loved it, never cared if it bricked or not. If you want a shoe buy the shoe regardless if it’s coveted by the masses or not.

[@CT37BN]

Air Max Zoom 950 NRG/Japan

[@nbk978]

bring back everything - only resellers hate that

[@Miguel1989-]

Im agree bring everything

[@Butwhatdoiknoww]

I’m not a reseller, but when they bring back heat I put them on ice and let people play them out. I always shopped for ish no one else really has on (at the time)

[@BookerT69]

Flightposite III

[@MusaEllison]

Everyone says this and then y’all let the shoes sit/brick 😂😂

[@BWen3]

@@MusaEllison what’s wrong with that for anyone but resellers and the brand producing it? The whole “brick” thing is silly. And real sneaker people don’t think in those terms.

[@Godfearingrashad]

Complex we need Nightwing from weartesters as a guest

[@70smebbin]

yup

[@BoondockGore]

I stopped watching complex and only watch weartesters now.

[@dadkicks]

Yup

[@emwebb10]

big facts. was very disappointed he wasn't on FSR

[@671oneblood]

​@emwebb10 If you watch some older episodes of FSR there's a few where they bring up Nightwing and trash him a little bit. Especially from Welty, which is funny he's all about him now.

[@wuchi3668]

All the "Grails" just fall apart after 15+ years. It's a resurrection

[@brendandunnecomplex]

This is a great point. Easy to forget that all of these shoes really do have a limited lifespan.

[@inalaboyy]

Especially TNs with full length air units

[@bern717]

Yes but you gotta let some of these grails be of its time. Kind of like car companies not bringing back classic cars

[@inalaboyy]

@@bern717very different re-releasing shoes compared to cars 💀

[@bern717]

@@inalaboyy yes, cars and shoes are different. What an amazing observation 😊 here is your cookie 🍪 now, stop picking your nose and let the adults talk 🙂

[@CMc_39]

I think maybe a handful of shoes shouldn’t be re-released but otherwise I’m all for it. Most of these rare sneakers never even get worn and just get sold back and forth from reseller to reseller and sit on a shelf for years. The only people this affects is sneaker resellers which is why the market for sneakers is terrible now because nobody is justifying spending 600+ dollars on a shoe they’re going to wear maybe once a year in the economy we live in

[@C0bbler_J0nes]

Why because it would ruin the resell value?

[@CMc_39]

@@C0bbler_J0nes unless you resell shoes then why would you care about the resell value? I’ve never bought a pair of shoes in my life for the purpose of reselling them one day. I buy them to wear them and that’s all I care about. I don’t think they should re release every rare shoe there is but there’s plenty of stuff that’s way overpriced now and shouldn’t be

[@amirimranz]

2 weeks without this show just felt so depressing. Glad it's back

[@Richard-Reloaded]

They don't give AF about our mental health.

[@traightlikethat7750]

Go outside

[@jacobw2389]

Get out more bro. It’ll do you good. 👍🏽

[@Mapmigi]

I like how Joe said he doesn’t like black and yellow shoes, when talking about the Wutang dunks. But the weekend he’s buying the black and yellow sndr max. 😂 You guys are all GOATS have a great weekend.

[@sunami7484]

He is always just trying to sound cool and sounds dumb

[@theenglishangle]

Man I wish I had a group of friends to talk sneakers with like you guys - yall make me smile // laugh and I always learn something about history in sneakers . I’m mainly a basketball shoe guy

[@richardharris3002]

People that have limited release sneakers that are against nike retroing hype collabs of the past are salty because they want that sense of validation that they have what many others can't have.

[@bflaves123]

Bingo

[@kadengomez1755]

You have to respect how hard it was for other people to get those shoes and not just blame it on validation. Some people may have waited in line for days just for Nike to re-release the same shoe en masse.

[@bflaves123]

@@kadengomez1755 And some people used bots and a backdoor 🤷 I don't care either way.

[@richardharris3002]

@kadengomez1755 what you have to understand you answered my point. Yes they may have been hard to get but more reason for validation by those that got what nobody else could get. Backdooring and "Status" was just as big back then as it is now. If you notice the first thing "most" sneaker grail collectors mention is how hard it was to get certain grails to hype up their cops even more bro. Think about it. That's what make a grail a grail.. hard to get, mad expensive and knowing someone to help you cop. What good is a grail without a "hard to get story" which make them more validated.

[@williamsmith9315]

They shouldn't be salty, they have the OG. 🤷‍♂️

[@paulkersey724]

I say bring back all the old grail sneakers. The only people that will feel some type of way about it are the collectors sitting on a pair of the shoe being retroed. Nobody is wearing patta air max ones at this point mostly on account of the age of the shoe (theyre on the borderline starting to crumble phase) and how limited they were. They should make them limited but not super limited.

[@inalaboyy]

Especially any TN made before 2015

[@mahe8566]

Focus on TN Retros and Quality 🙏🏼

[@a.w.b.9971]

Bringing back all the kicks people missed out on in the resale era would be genius

[@adriantorres5485]

I love that they bring back everything now. Grails to me that I couldn’t get, I can now and at a reasonable price, Miami nights, south beaches, Chicago 1s, cement 4s. A lot of shoes this younger gen don’t understand and it makes it easy for us old folks lol

[@bdalondon]

Time for another Air Stab retro👌

[@mattkaminski1832]

Foot patrols and clerks pack 😮

[@sevendaysin8374]

Welty rockin' the sea salt 993s - my birthday pair this year and such a beautiful colorway!

[@PJ-xm1yc]

Good thing Matt brought up Asics. We need more Asics talk on this show. They been coming out with some heat lately. Brendan disrespected The Kayano 14 saying it's the dunk of Asics, Kayano 14 is better and you dont see it as often as dunks

[@beneaththesound]

Yo what?! The Deftones and N.E.R.D. dunks were 🔥🔥🔥

[@yungfresh2defe]

Bring back the Tim Duncan foamposite… we need them Oakland raider bo Jackson’s with the 34 on the back

[@cmn225]

probably not getting the 34 on em but i agree both those joints need to drop

[@yungfresh2defe]

@@cmn225 ay bro and they can give us the air Darwin too.. Nike acting they’re a one trick pony 😡 they have hella retros that they could rerelease but it seems like they trying to to cater to a certain group of people and it’s not working

[@meuniversity8681]

​@yungfresh2defe ay, the Darwin came back bout 5 years ago, and I got the ones I had back in 96 !! When I pulled em out an hit the street the old heads was sick.....dude cut his wife off mid sentence at the mall like, man where you get dem at yo LMBO....the younguns was soooo confused......reverse check pre Travis suckas😂

[@cmn225]

⁠@@yungfresh2defei'm cool on the Darwins but i agree

[@omarmac1]

Get the things you like ❤ forget what people think

[@TeeWvyy]

No one at all: Brendan: Joe La Puma is untwisting his water bottle for those not watching

[@bern717]

This is so accurate 😂😂😂

[@City-iD]

Nike bringing back the “grails” is great imo. I love seeing people getting the shoes that they really like and weren’t able to obtain in the past. Although too often they’re bringing back the wrong “grails” and that’s why we often see them sitting. The HuF Air Max 1s is a great shoe but it’s a niche sneaker and not everyone likes them simply because the color way is pretty boring tbh. I think something like an “elephant print” Atmos AM1 or even the “safari” ones would do much better than the HuF ones just did. There are way too many collab shoes atm on the market and people are becoming more and more selective on what they buy. And imo regardless of who the collaborator is, the shoe on its own has to be special and it has to stand out, for the majority of people to be interested in it.

[@MetroDeathraid]

That pink Diamond Dunk is a custom by UglyDunkling

[@rafyc13]

Episode dropped three hours but not sure when they recorded. With that being said all the info was out again about the Pink and Red diamond customs three days ago and didn’t have the correct info for this podcast.

[@brendandunnecomplex]

@@rafyc13 good call, definitely missed that background. Appreciate the audience keeping us straight.

[@rexkicks_270]

I don’t get why you guys are against these Nike “Retro/Unreleased” sneakers… I feel like you guys should be happy that this can happen and the sneaker heads that want to have a pair for the toe not for resell… I hope all this pairs release 😁

[@airpsy5976]

As both fans of Tekken and sneakers a collab is way overdue, especially how Kaz being a sneakerhead is canon and a long time meme. Definitely getting a pair and looking forward to the Jin colorway!

[@kevincollins8620]

I'm a HUGE tekken fan. Not excited on posits though. I love your picture avatar. New Light got me into the Peg AT and I actually found a pair clearance ross for like 20 bucks the week that video was new. I flipped to say the least. I still rock them when it's raining. John Mayer and I have history.

[@airpsy5976]

@@kevincollins8620 Huge Tekken fan also, and tbh when I first saw them my initial reaction was the same as yours, still not sure why they went with Foams when Kaz strikes me as a Jordan collector. But the more I think of it, I saw it more as a collectible since its the first ever Tekken collab with sneakers, two hobbies of mine combined. Love John Mayer, he is the best guitarist in our modern day. Was going to see his show a couple of years ago but he got COVID and we couldn’t make the rescheduled date. He also has some sneaker moments, hopefully the boys gets him as a guest!

[@kevincollins8620]

@@airpsy5976 back I'm his No room for squares era we crossed paths and shared the stage. Had no idea the guy would be an icon today. Wouldn't have even struck me as a nike or sneaker enthusiast then. I was already.

[@ianrobinson2504]

Futura explained the whole dunkle situation on a sb documentary. He had nothing to do with it and didn't seem happy about it . He said they just called him and told him it was happening and he did not get a say.

[@bharatchaturvedi1950]

This was a great episode, a ton of great stuff covered and discussed.

[@nicbecker6371]

This was one of my favorite episodes. Now that I’m in my mid 40s and growing up with everything coming out the first time back in the day and now seeing certain shoes returning. I’ve been torn too like you 3. The “Sole Stories” are what make a shoe feel so personal. It was mentioned that it’s nice to get that shoe you always wanted and it might be easier because the new generation doesn’t have the story like we did so I still feel fulfilled getting a retro that was hyped but now easier to get.

[@blakerichards5675]

I was never alive for the AF1 linens. One of the guys I work with at JD and you guys told me about them and I fell in love. I’m so happy they’re sitting for under retail

[@michaeltashiro3161]

21:40 Clipse coming on Complex soooon !

[@natewatson6962]

Welty be puttin it on, at least sneakers.

[@Queenz718NY]

Nothing better than Friday 10AM Complex Sneaker Show drop. PS Dunne the 97’s look good, plenty life left.

[@maxswp]

I remember my friend skating in the dunkles when I was younger. He was sponsored by nocturnal skate shop in Philly and used to get free clothes and boards and some of Kerry Getz and other older skaters hand me downs.

[@kevincollins8620]

Kerry Getz busy

[@maxswp]

@@kevincollins8620 hockey temper getz

[@frankcarrion1011]

Bring FSR back

[@qu3nt]

this is waaaay better than FSR

[@inalaboyy]

@@qu3ntboth have their place but this show is arguably a better format yet FSR was more ‘entertaining’ in its own way

[@frankcarrion1011]

@@qu3nt we miss it FSR ARMY

[@AirAnthony]

Wow that was me calling Alumni in Wisconsin like 5 times a day asking for the Tiffany Sunk 😂

[@elburto5387]

So we can wear them, you know, what sneakers are for.

[@adiktuskicktus7144]

Thank you

[@ThisxFate]

Forreal. People wanna protect their clout too hard instead of just existing for their own enjoyment

[@bflaves123]

And they're only "Grails" to resellers. Nike doesnt see a dime of you selling a Jordan 4 for $2000

[@orionllc31]

Always wanted a Tekken X Air Max Plus collab ever since King in Tekken 3

[@paulmartinez8427]

I’m 22 years old. SBs got me into shoes when I was in middle school . I remember watching a video of the Undefeated 4s and fell in love with them immediately. Those 4s gave me an appreciation for Jordan’s I never had before. If these come out I’ll cry 😂

[@rchrdp305]

Another awesome episode as always. I was told those pink Tifanny SB Lows are customs btw

[@bluiii]

There better have been an episode today

[@AICUTBOXXX]

I was just watching the last video and I seen you in the chi outlet last week and I had on volt shirt with the volt vomeros. I was cracking up when you said that. lol. Get better bro. Love the content.

[@gabemarquez4634]

Many years from now after this show ultimately ends, will you guys retro the show in a coffee shop as old guys getting together for their morning coffee and talking sneakers?

[@TheCoolhanddan83]

Thanks again guys, best part of my 3rd shift as always.

[@bloodshot6]

Really Happy to see the Wu-Tang dunk to get an official release, I will be picking up two pairs. I think the wild thing is that as we grow (been collecting since the late 90’s), we are at a time where things like these will get retro’d and perhaps there’s a lot of folks who ask for them to be released.

[@dieserrobi]

Such a GOOD convo about Nike releasing older grails again

[@rockyvelasquez6025]

Great content that was a fun episode

[@bleztt]

I think what JLP was trying to explain with the NERD Dunks is there are things that are best for a moment in time. Bring in them back now would be for such a niche group of the culture that it could ruin the legacy of what the shoe meant to that moment in time.

[@AzeeyEbk]

The only people who will be able to appreciate it then are the people who got to experience it who willl get old and die but what about the letting the torch not die

[@leocantu13]

Those concepts Kayanos are 🔥

[@JustGoodwine]

Im not offended by them bringing back grails. Thats how I got my Doernbecher 6s for retail. When Nike did the 15th anniversary I actually hit on SNKRS while I was at work.

[@HeylookitsElias76]

Yall talking about sunset air maxes, but we need the Air Max 1 Sunsets to retro!! Also we need more JLP passionately talking about sneakers re-sparking the feeling 🙌🏼

[@martinmagnia314]

This is a great podcast Thank you guys

[@BURSTspeed]

intro stepper

[@Naysayertribe]

silver bullets are my go-to. I got four pairs and they're perfect for switching out as beaters because they don't really look like beaters.

[@rajatmalhotra4270]

It feels like anything that destroys the feeling of nostalgia is something that should be taken care of with more nuance. Releasing rare things that have a lore attached to them and people's story of hunting them is completely watered down when older releases are brought back en masse. I own the Parra Amsterdam AM 1s, and it took me 8 years to find a pair for what I was willing to pay. If they released today in the way that the clot air max 1s did, they might brick, and that would hurt for sure because it would tarnish the legacy of what that sneaker is. Yes, it will give folks a chance to own it, but releasing so many pairs to then have them go on sale because they are not relevant with today's times really just ruins the exclusivity and the feeling of accomplishment you get with the hunt and maybe saving up for something. In a nutshell, retro them, but with care and educate people and create hype about them so people understand why you are bringing them back. Great example would be the Atmos elephant AM 1s. Amazing retro and did not water down the sneaker whatsoever

[@cmn225]

facts

[@marka.shuffler9965]

I need those Air Max TN’s too. Plus - no pun intended - Nike needs to bring back the rest of that pack: blue and purple. All amazing ..

[@tedztlee]

sneaker collecting can sometimes be perceived as gate keeping culture since its all about owning the exclusive sneaker so once it re-releases a sneaker is no longer cool

[@cmn225]

i agree the problem is people acting like gatekeeping is a bad thing...i think it's totally necessary & acceptable in some cases

[@eossoon]

The memory of you reading about the shoes, being excited for them, trying to get them, and either failing or succeeding will remain regardless whether they come back out again or not. Release them so that the new generation can have them as well.

[@ricosroughnecks701]

Welty with the Proud boys support tee on made me cut this off

[@JuanDiaz-zo2ys]

I remember owning a pair of 1986 Reebok bb5600s back in HS (in white & royal). Now I see Reebok retroing them in black & white...but that $260 price tag is insane.

[@finlayohara8659]

Jesus Christ how many times am I going to get the GTA ad in 1 episode.

[@MrHabeeb90]

Sneaker culture is important. We need to all hold each other accountable. What a beautiful group to be part of since 2002. God Bless

[@prankstisci2523]

Great episode!

[@jonrod9973]

Yooo Dunne, chill with the retire talk on the 2017 AM97 Silver Bullet. I'm still rocking a pair from 2012!

[@Walrydc]

Jlp speaking facts on opening the vault. Well said.

[@petesneaks7366]

JLP makes the best point when talking about the galaxy foams. Why should you be mad about them re releasing if you haven’t worn them In years when there’s someone who was in hs who never had a chance at getting them who still wants them to this day

[@gabrielorsini9722]

AirMax 98's Hornets colorway NEED EM, NOY HYPED BUT HEY IT'S WHAT I LIKE, also some color schemes of the Supreme/98's collabs aswell

[@thechicken7092]

Great show!!

[@michaelgrannum6582]

Imagine listening to these 3 to get your cool card 😂

[@Naysayertribe]

The thing about these sneakers being re-released is that no one can take away the memory or feeling you had when that sneaker came out. These coming out again won't change the way you felt trying to get the sneakers and striking out or the feeling you felt when you actually copped these sneakers. Sneakers to me are more about nostalgia nowadays and I feel like there are different eras to each sneaker. When galaxies came out I remember hearing about my ATL homies posting about riots at the mall. This will be different but we can all still appreciate when those sneakers came out and how they came out Also, UNDFTD 4's to me aren't a real sneaker since there's only 72 pairs so I think that is a huge W

[@wills_gotsneakers3954]

Eddy Gordo the goat fr, the back flip kick hit was unstoppable

[@illestFlavor]

Love those Kayano 14 Concepts

[@garydepena2332]

PRods 1’s 2’s and 3’s were ittt🔥

[@god.like.style99]

I think Nike is releasing all these “grails” and OGs are due to them not doing well- Nike stock is down.

[@Yesyou_]

Can y’all look into how Cool kicks got a shipment of 500+ pairs of canary Travis Scott Jordan 1s from one person. It’s either someone from Travis Scott’s team or someone at Jordan you’d think they should be able to trace that many pairs coming from one person

[@Rrsnow850]

Those Busy P's are still on my grail list.

[@HERBALSDUDE]

2 weeks feels like a long time without you guys very great topics you guys touched on loved the episode 🫶🏽🙏🏽

[@ohiorichkidbeats]

Futura P-rod's ABSOLUTELY FIRE 🔥

[@nikoenciso01]

Yeah I worked Suns arena and seen Jr Smith with the first Tiffany Dunk one day those are dope looking

[@Sneaky_freek]

That's funny, I also thought you were talking about a low top trainer, but I was thinking the Manny Pacquiao ones....

[@junechrizvincentdegayo5235]

You’re back my friends! Watching from the Philippines 🇵🇭

[@j-robthetrapgod500]

The #1 shoe I want Nike to pull from the vault is the Nike Bruin McFly. Speaking it into existence!!

[@official_Nez1400]

Why has no one talked about the vans New skools they are sooo dope why don’t get much skater shoes on this show no love for the culture ?

[@plutarco2748]

Joe say it was not a p-rod shoe ….now he say is the free-rod plus sb-dunk …..WTH😂

[@rudeboi9222]

I feel that if a shoe or product is considered special by the consumer, it’s not due to the rarity or limited production. it’s the love & appeal that particular customer has for the product….if you ultimately see a product in any other way it’s due to the value

[@mikeyaaahhh]

In talking about cult classics or a snapshot of a timeframen let's not forget also the retro of the Stash Spiridon.

[@johndoe220]

King Welty

[@nathanielmwangi6572]

SunderMax....copped ... on way ..." can't wait" !!!!

[@vee5694]

facts💯

[@SLVASRFA]

These 3 dudes are the last people on earth I would look to for advice on sneakers and fashion lol dorky az mofos look at them

[@enriqueworthy4481]

Joe you just killed your whole argument with the Nerd dunks lol.

[@3rdworldfamous]

Any episode this week?

[@ronniemcintyre1103]

Break up your meals during the window that you allow yourself to eat. Try drinking protein shakes as well. I recognize the mall, so I think we're in the same area. But keep going you're doing great!!

[@J.Win414]

If it's not going to do something nowadays, don't bring it back. Keep it special!

[@jeffreycurtisjr9195]

I have the skate adidas Supermod ST vintage pair .. I’m surprised it’s not been retro yet

[@KeepingItFishy]

Bring back everything! 🔥

[@SwaG.DriPPa]

Can we ask Nike to bring back Flightposite 3 Platinumposite? This sneaker is ahead of its time jeeezz!

[@llahhsoj7651]

Nike releases way too many Jordans IMO.

[@pixelfacekillah]

I'm from the old era...bought Tiffany dunks for retail $60 😫. I say bring everything back. Most of these old sneakers are falling apart now. Most of the younger collectors don't care anyways. They weren't there.

[@Bev-ish]

I think good sneakers and good sneaker releases are not distinguished enough. If it’s a good sneaker it’ll sell out and hit everytime it drops, taking the AJ1 Chicago an an example. However, obviously, I can acknowledge that even a sneaker that dropped every year would become mundane. But a lot of time “grail” sneakers release and people are surprised they flopped and didn’t resell. It’s because you bought the marketing the first time and that variable was missing the second time around.

[@user-vb3gf2nm8k]

I love this show and the comment about people for can feel they want to feel. So for me I want all Hip Hop dunks released. Give me Wu-Tangs, MF Dooms, White De La Souls (yes white) etc. My kids are grown. It is my time 💯

[@Rincewindize]

@Welty: The comment about Armstrong is a bit wrong: Many back then did doping. But he did win because of that. This year Pogacar did it all naturally. For making it good, gimme your Morgan Tee…😆

[@stroalmighty7388]

I love the show but forget what yall talking about!! I’m glad they re releasing those undefeated 4’s!! The mayor ain’t the only one who deserves a pair 😂🤷🏿‍♂️

[@jayratjayrat]

Kinda surprised you wore the ‘17 silver bullets. Jawnts are super stiff for me