Side Kicks Streetwear • Global Release Guide
Updated: 15 May 2026
About the release
The Air Jordan 12 'Bloodline' is a release that very nearly did not happen. Originally on Jordan Brand's 2025 calendar before being pulled and replaced with the 'Flu Game' retro, it is now confirmed for May 2026 — and the wait has produced one of the cleaner AJ12 colourways in recent years. A near-blacked-out build with Varsity Red accents, a faux reptile skin mudguard and a premium debossed leather heel tab rather than the usual woven stripe.
The 'Bloodline' theme within Jordan Brand dates back to 2019 with the Peter Moore AJ1 High OG, and has since appeared across the Luka 4 and Luka .77. The AJ12 version carries the same Black and Varsity Red DNA — Bulls colours, elevated construction, restrained colour hits throughout. Style code CT8013-003.
UK release is 23 May 2026 for £190 via Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers in men's and grade school sizing.
TL;DR – Air Jordan 12 'Bloodline' Release Date, Price & Where to Buy
- UK release date: 23 May 2026
- Model: Air Jordan 12 Retro
- Colourway: Black / Varsity Red
- Style code: CT8013-003
- UK retail price: £190
- US retail price: $215 (Men's), $155 (GS)
- Sizing: Men's and Grade School
- Where to buy: Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers
- Key details: Black tumbled leather upper, faux reptile skin mudguard, Varsity Red metallic eyelets and TPU Jumpman badge, debossed leather heel tab, "Two 3" midfoot label, full-length Air Zoom unit, carbon fibre shank
UK release date and price
The Air Jordan 12 'Bloodline' releases on Saturday 23 May 2026 via Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers in men's and grade school sizing.
UK retail is £190 for men's and US retail is $215.
Design and details
The upper is built in black tumbled leather — clean, premium and with a subtle texture that reads differently to standard smooth leather. A faux reptile skin mudguard wraps the side panels, adding a second texture layer to an otherwise tonal black build. Tonal stitching throughout keeps the design sharp without breaking the dark palette.
Varsity Red appears on the metallic upper eyelets, the TPU Jumpman badge on the mudguard, the heel "23" branding and the outsole tip — small, deliberate hits that carry the Chicago Bulls colour story without over-applying it. The tongue branding is blacked out including the Jumpman logo and "Two 3" embroidery, creating a fully stealth interior that makes the red accents elsewhere hit harder by contrast.
The heel tab is the premium detail most buyers will notice immediately. It swaps the Air Jordan 12's typical woven stripe for a debossed leather finish, giving the rear a more sophisticated look than standard AJ12 constructions. Plastic eyelets on the topmost lace loops — a Tinker Hatfield design reference borrowed from women's boots — complete the upper.
The embroidered Jumpman logo appears on the tongue, sockliner and heel strip, alongside the "Two 3" label on the midfoot panel.
AJ12 tech specs: Air Zoom and carbon fibre shank
The Air Jordan 12 was built for elite basketball performance and those specs carry into the retro. A full-length Air Zoom unit delivers a responsive, springy ride underfoot. A carbon fibre shank plate runs through the midsole providing arch support and lateral stability — a feature that separates the AJ12 from most of its contemporaries. Grippy herringbone rubber pods on the outsole complete the performance foundation.
Air Jordan 12 'Bloodline' images
Credit: Nike
The Bloodline theme: Jordan Brand history
The Bloodline colourway concept within Jordan Brand first appeared in 2019 with the Air Jordan 1 High OG, designed by Peter Moore and using Black, White and Varsity Red to represent the Chicago Bulls' DNA. The theme has since appeared on the Luka 4 and Luka .77, both in similar Black and red constructions.
The AJ12 'Bloodline' adds the twelfth signature silhouette to that lineage. The unofficial connection to WWE star Roman Reigns — who leads a faction called The Bloodline and was gifted a pair weeks before launch — generated additional attention around the release, though Jordan Brand has confirmed there is no formal collaboration with the wrestling promotion. The timing added cultural noise to what was already a well-anticipated release.
Why this release matters
The AJ12 does not get as many premium colourways as the AJ3 or AJ4, which makes a release with this level of construction attention — debossed leather heel, faux reptile skin mudguard, full-length Air Zoom — a stronger proposition than a standard seasonal retro. It was nearly shelved in favour of the 'Flu Game' and the fact that it survived is a testament to how much demand the original leak generated.
At £190 it sits in line with other premium AJ12 releases and the design holds up at that price. The blacked-out approach with restrained red accents gives it year-round wearability that a more aggressive colourway would not.
Where to buy
The Air Jordan 12 'Bloodline' releases on 23 May 2026 via Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers. Browse all Air Jordan 12 releases and all Jordan Brand releases on Side Kicks.
FAQ
When is the Air Jordan 12 'Bloodline' UK release date?
The Air Jordan 12 'Bloodline' releases on Saturday 23 May 2026 via Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers.
How much does the Air Jordan 12 'Bloodline' cost in the UK?
UK retail price is £190 for men's sizing. US retail is $215 for men's and $155 for grade school.
What is the style code for the Air Jordan 12 'Bloodline'?
The style code is CT8013-003. The colourway is Black / Varsity Red.
What is the Bloodline theme in Jordan Brand?
The Bloodline colourway debuted in 2019 with the Air Jordan 1 High OG designed by Peter Moore, using Black, White and Varsity Red to represent the Chicago Bulls' colour DNA. It has since appeared on the Luka 4 and Luka .77. The AJ12 is the most recent addition to the Bloodline lineage.
Is the Air Jordan 12 'Bloodline' a WWE Roman Reigns collaboration?
No. There is no formal collaboration between Jordan Brand and WWE or Roman Reigns on this release. Jordan Brand gifted Reigns a pair ahead of release, but the Bloodline colourway theme predates the wrestling storyline and is entirely separate from any WWE partnership.
Why was the Air Jordan 12 'Bloodline' delayed?
The Bloodline AJ12 was originally scheduled for 2025 but was pulled from the release calendar and replaced with the 'Flu Game' retro. Following continued demand from the sneaker community, it was rescheduled and confirmed for May 2026.
Discover more from Side Kicks
