Side Kicks Streetwear • Global Release Guide
Updated: 15 June 2026
About the release
Nike is closing out the Air Max 95's 30th anniversary celebrations with one of the more visually distinctive pairs of the run. The Big Bubble SE 'Scorpion' drops in tonal black with electric Gamma Blue glowing through the tongue branding and the interior of the oversized Air bubbles. A literal scorpion illustration sits on the midsole — a callback to Nike's 2002 'Secret Tournament' / Scorpion KO World Cup campaign — making the pair feel like more than a standard GR colourway. Style code IM4691-001.
The Air Max 95 'Scorpion' borrows directly from the Air Jordan 11 Gamma in colour direction. Black patent leather sits across part of the wavy side panel blocking, with the rest of the panels switching between suede, synthetic and mesh for a layered material build. Reflective grey accents finish the tongue stabiliser, the Air Max tongue logo and the mini heel Swoosh, and tiny scorpion graphics appear on the lateral heel and outsole.
UK release is Wednesday 1 July 2026 for £175 via Nike and select retailers. Unisex sizing.
TL;DR – Nike Air Max 95 Big Bubble 'Scorpion' Black IM4691-001 Release Date, Price & Where to Buy
- UK release date: Wednesday 1 July 2026
- Model: Nike Air Max 95 Big Bubble SE
- Colourway: Black / Chrome / Gamma Blue / Metallic Silver
- Style code: IM4691-001
- UK retail price: £175
- US retail price: $190
- Sizing: Unisex
- Where to buy: Nike and select retailers
- Key details: Tonal black layered upper across patent leather, suede, synthetic and mesh, Gamma Blue tongue branding and Air bubble interiors, reflective grey accents, scorpion graphics on lateral heel and outsole, Big Bubble Air Max tooling, references Nike's 2002 Scorpion KO World Cup campaign and the Air Jordan 11 Gamma palette
Release date and price
The Nike Air Max 95 Big Bubble 'Scorpion' releases in the UK on Wednesday 1 July 2026 via Nike and select Nike Sportswear retailers, online and in-store. UK retail price is £175, with US retail set at $190.
Unisex sizing is available across the run. The 'Scorpion' is positioned as one of the final Big Bubble Air Max 95 anniversary releases of 2026, with the matching Air Max Plus VII 'Scorpion' expected to release around the same window.
Design and details
Most Air Max 95 anniversary colourways this year have leaned into specific OG references or kit-style palettes. The 'Scorpion' goes somewhere else entirely — borrowing colour direction from the Jordan world and layering in a piece of obscure Nike marketing history. It's one of the more conceptually loaded AM95 releases of the run.
Tonal black upper
The upper runs in a layered tonal black build that mixes materials properly. Black patent leather sits across part of the wavy side panel blocking — a direct nod to the Air Jordan 11 Gamma — with the rest of the paneling switching between suede, synthetic and a carbon-fibre-style material. Mesh sits in the underlay positions for ventilation. The mix gives the shoe genuine depth despite the single-colour upper.
Gamma Blue accents
Electric Gamma Blue sparks across the design where it matters most. The colour hits the tongue branding, the laces and the interior of the oversized Air bubbles, with the lit-from-within effect giving the sole unit its standout visual moment. The Gamma Blue choice also nods to the way scorpions glow under ultraviolet light — a literal reference embedded in the colour story.
Scorpion illustration and branding
A scorpion illustration crawls along the midsole, with smaller scorpion graphics placed on the lateral heel and outsole. The motif comes from Nike's 2002 'Secret Tournament' (aka Scorpion KO) World Cup campaign — an underground 3-on-3 marketing programme featuring Henry, Totti, Ronaldinho and Ronaldo. It's the kind of deep-cut Nike reference that rewards anyone paying attention.
Big Bubble sole and finishing
Underfoot, this sits on Nike's Big Bubble Air Max tooling — the larger visible Air unit that references the original mid-90s AM95 production setup. Reflective grey accents finish the tongue stabiliser and the heelside mini Swoosh, with metallic silver and chrome detailing across the branding for an additional premium edge. The finish reads more futuristic than vintage.
Nike Air Max 95 Big Bubble 'Scorpion' images
Credit: Nike
The Scorpion KO connection
If you're wondering why a Nike running shoe has a scorpion on it, the answer goes back to 2002. Scorpion KO was the marketing name behind Nike's 'Secret Tournament' campaign for that year's World Cup — an underground 3-on-3 cage football competition featuring Thierry Henry, Francesco Totti, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and others, with Eric Cantona as the master of ceremonies. The campaign was one of Nike's most iconic football marketing moments, and the scorpion logo became its visual signature.
Bringing it back on an Air Max 95 anniversary release lands the reference in the right place. The AM95 had already crossed into football culture across multiple T90-inspired releases this year, and the Scorpion graphic continues that line of thinking — connecting Nike's running heritage to its football archive without forcing the link.
Where to buy
The Nike Air Max 95 Big Bubble 'Scorpion' releases on Wednesday 1 July 2026 for £175 via Nike and select retailers. Browse the full Air Max 95 collection and all Big Bubble releases on Side Kicks.
FAQ
When is the Nike Air Max 95 Big Bubble 'Scorpion' UK release date?
The Nike Air Max 95 Big Bubble SE 'Scorpion' releases on Wednesday 1 July 2026 via Nike and select Nike Sportswear retailers.
How much does the Nike Air Max 95 Big Bubble 'Scorpion' cost in the UK?
UK retail price is £175. US retail is $190.
What is the style code for the Air Max 95 Big Bubble 'Scorpion'?
The style code is IM4691-001. The colourway is Black / Chrome / Gamma Blue / Metallic Silver.
What is the scorpion graphic about?
The scorpion comes from Nike's 2002 'Secret Tournament' / Scorpion KO World Cup campaign — an underground 3-on-3 football competition featuring Henry, Totti, Ronaldinho and others. The scorpion logo became one of Nike Football's most recognisable marketing moments, and this Air Max 95 brings it back with a small heel illustration, an outsole graphic and a larger scorpion along the midsole.
Why does the 'Scorpion' colourway look like the Air Jordan 11 Gamma?
The colour direction is a deliberate reference. Black patent leather, Gamma Blue accents and the dark layered upper all borrow from the Air Jordan 11 Retro Gamma Blue that dropped in late 2025. The scorpion graphics and Big Bubble sole are what set this pair apart from a straight Gamma reissue.
Is there a matching Air Max Plus 'Scorpion'?
Yes. The Air Max Plus VII 'Scorpion' (IQ9429-001) is expected to release around the same window as the AM95, with the same scorpion theme applied across Nike's Visible Air lineup. The Plus VII leans more graphic with its scorpion detailing, while the AM95 keeps things more subtle.
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