Michael Jordan’s third signature sneaker is one of the most frequently reissued models in Nike, Inc.’s vast Air Jordan archive, so much so that in 2014, it was temporarily discontinued in part to avoid market saturation. This year alone, the Air Jordan 3 has added several new looks including a charm-adorned Valentine’s Day version, a prototype-inspired Rare Air iteration, a re-imagining of the 2018 Seoul style and more. Before 2025 comes to a close, the shoe will get yet another new look, this time taking inspiration from the Mexican form of professional wrestling known as lucha libre.

Dubbed the Air Jordan 3 Mexico “El Vuelo,” the upcoming release is decked out in unique details, many of which have never been seen on the model. With a full colorway of Summit White/Metallic Gold/Pine Green/Dragon Red/Sail, the lucha libre-inspired shoe is predominantly white with snakeskin-textured red overlays filling in the usual elephant print segments and a green snakeskin ankle collar.

The scaly finishes are reminiscent of the masks and attire worn by lucha libre wrestlers (or luchadores), and the texture is carried over to a jagged, flame like panel which wraps both the lateral and medial sides of the shoe, a first for the Air Jordan 3.

Other details unique to this pair include metallic gold hardware and heel stitching along with “más vale maña que fuerza” on the backsides of the left and right tongues. The phrase loosely translates to “skill is worth more than strength,” which alludes to the high-flying, technical style of luchadores compared to traditional pro wrestling.

But Jordan Brand didn’t stop at the sneaker itself. Even the shoe’s packaging goes all-in on the lucha theme with a colorful “Jordan vs Jordan” theme reminiscent of wrestling advertisements. 

In 2024, Jordan Brand released Air Jordan 5 El Grito style, its first shoe that celebrated Mexican and Latin America culture. 

This year, the brand will launch the Air Jordan 3 Mexico El Vuelo, which has a style code of IO1752-100, on Sept. 16 for a retail price of $230. Like the Air Jordan 5 El Grito, it’s likely that the Air Jordan 3 will first be released in specific regions before a wider release. Readers can expect availability from Nike’s Snkrs app and select Jordan Brand retailers.