Image via Complex Original
There are two types of people getting ready to read this—'90s babies who grew up on nasty-ass Pizza Hut pizza and T.G.I.F. shows every week and there are the 2000s children who have no idea what the hell we're talking about. If you are the latter, let us catch you up quick—Boy Meets World was a show that defined teenage suburbia and a style of television that died as its viewers went off to college and traded in the Matthews for Jackass. Why is it relevant now? After it was announced that a new show was in the works around Cory and Topanga's children, we decided it was time to revisit the original to get you familiar before the new series drops later this year. Besides touching on trendy hot-topics in teenage life, the show was a staple for trends and what would trends be without the sneakers? Grab your lunch, ignore your friends and co-workers and dive back into one of the greatest shows of a generation and check out The Complete Sneaker History of Boy Meets World.
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Episode 1 - Nike Air Maestro
Nike Air Maestro
Year (of Sneaker): 1992
Season(s): 1, 2
Episode(s): 1, 19, 43
Young Cornelius (you might know him as Cory) kicks the show off stunting in sixth grade with one of the hottest basketball kicks out in '92. You think that gets him any leeway with Mr. Feeny? Never that, but we see young C getting some attention from Topanga and....yeah, that's really about it. Gotta be the shoes.
Episode 1 - Nike Air Tailwind Kenya
Nike Air Tailwind "Kenya"
Year (of Sneaker): 1992
Season(s): 1
Episode(s): 2, 6, 8, 19, 14
Shawn impressed from the jump with the Kenya-tailored Air Tailwind classics that released in 1992. The OG-colorway built with thick mesh is one of the hottest runners of all time and was welcomed back in 2009 by sneakerheads who beat up their pairs in the '90s. Even though Shawn was living that trailer park life that didn't stop him from rocking the best.
Episode 3 - Air Jordan VIII
Air Jordan VIII "Bugs"
Year (of Sneaker): 1993
Season(s): 1
Episode(s): 3, 5, 14, 17, 20
After you get through that pilot, that's when the real wardrobe money starts to surface. Even though Cory was born and raised in Philly, that didn't stop him from rocking Js in the city of Brotherly Love. We guess Chuck did split for Arizona and it didn't leave him with a whole lot of other options. Jeff Hornacek wasn't walking through that door.
Episode 4 - Converse Chuck Taylors
Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars
Year (of Sneaker): 1917
Season(s): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
Episode(s): 4, 14, 17, 38, 49, 51, 57, 68, 78, 88, 101, 111, 142
The most featured shoe in the show, it makes sense considering it has been a staple in just about every Americans' closet for nearly a century. Throughout the whole show, Cory's older brother and dad are Taylor Gang'd when they keep it casual. We have to hit Cory with the flagrant for pushing his old man on the ground during a driveway game, all those days watching Chuck as a child in Philly.
Episode 13 - Nike Air Force High
Nike Air Force High
Year (of Sneaker): 1993
Season(s): 1
Episode(s): 13
One of the hottest sneakers on the hardwood, Shawn was one of the illest kids in his class thanks to his clean white pair of Nike Air Force Highs that dropped in 1993. You see that girl spittin' game at little homie during lunch, he's doing something right.
Episode 29 - Nike Air Veer
Nike Air Veer
Year (of Sneaker): 1994
Season(s): 2
Episode(s): 29, 40
There was some major sneaker heat in the halls of John Adams High. As Cory and Shawn flourish in a new setting, we catch some extras stunting the cross-training Nike Air Veer among the standout jawns on the show. We're glad this will be making a comeback in 2013 too.
Episode 34 - Nike Air Max2 CB
Nike Air Max2 CB
Year (of Sneaker): 1994
Season(s): 2
Episode(s): 34, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44
Waddup Chuck? Cory busts out Sir Charles' latest sneaker which play a part in some of his greatest adolescent moments including a lot of fighting and wrestling. The Barkleys kill and even though Chuck was in Phoenix at the time there is no doubt young Matthews was still reppin' Philly to the fullest.
Episode 43 - Nike Air Reversal
Nike Air Reversal
Year (of Sneaker): 1995
Season(s): 2
Episode(s): 43
It doesn't get more official than the Nike Air Reversal in the ring. When Cory was out there thuggin' he chose the Swoosh to keep him from fully getting his ass kicked by flunky, Joey "The Rat" in front of the whole school and a few guest celebrity appearances.
Episode 45 - Air Jordan IX "Olive"
Air Jordan IX "Olive"
Year (of Sneaker): 1995
Season(s): 3
Episode(s): Promo
Even when Ben Savage wasn't officially shooting he kept it G in the "Olive" Jordan IXs that had sneakerheads going crazy last fall.
Episode 50 - FILA Grant Hill 1
FILA Grant Hill 1
Year (of Sneaker): 1995
Season(s): 3
Episode(s): 50, 67
Before Mike rocked the 4-5 and made his comeback from Birmingham, it was Grant Hill who had the hottest sneaker in the game and FILA handsomely rewarded him in the process. During season three of the show, the students keep up with trends, showing off their latest Italian brand pick-up in the classroom and hallways.
Episode 58 - Nike Air Flight One
Nike Air Flight One
Year (of Sneaker): 1995
Season(s): 3
Episode(s): 58
One of the most comfortable basketball sneakers, the Air Flight One was well-received when they made their way back in 2012. This student knew, roaming the hallways starting some beef with the older students. The kids don't stand a chance.
Episode 58 - Nike Air DVST8
Nike Air DVST8
Year (of Sneaker): 1995
Season(s): 3
Episode(s): 58
Before Rodman got the Ndestrukts, Nike had another basketball shoe with an equally unique name and design with the Air DVST8—that's right, sound it out. While most basketball shoes were mainly tonal at the time, this model broke all the rules and helped set a trend for future kicks.
Episode 59 - Reebok Swingman
Reebok Swingman
Year (of Sneaker): 1995
Season(s): 3
Episode(s): 59
The name might confuse you for something that more along baseball but this was a shoe worn by a lot of small guards in the NBA and college—and dudes mouth piecin' Cory's female friend. You have to defend your lady, right? Sort of.
Episode 62 - Nike Air DT Max '96
Nike Air DT Max '96
Year (of Sneaker): 1996
Season(s): 3
Episode(s): 62
Even best friends throw blows from time-to-time, didn't you see Making Da Band? Bad example. Cory tried helping Shawn who comes from meager surroundings, with some home problems and it ended up with beef. Homie in the back with the DT Max '96 Nikes had a front row view to the whole girl fight.
Episode 66 - Nike Air Max Triax
Nike Air Max Triax
Year (of Sneaker): 1996
Season(s): 3
Episode(s): 66
Andrew Keegan made a guest spot in season three, cock-blocking Cory while him and Topanga had some issues. Mister 10 Things I Hate About You is super corny as usual but we gotta dap him for the sick Air Max Triax he rocked during his brief appearance on the show.
Episode 71 - Airwalk Void
Airwalk Void
Year (of Sneaker): 1990's
Season(s): 4
Episode(s): 71, 72, 80
As the guys of Boy Meets World got older, their tastes progressed from Nike basketball shoes and runners to Airwalk joints that were the rage in the mid-to-later '90s.
Episode 90 - Airwalk Jim
Airwalk Jim
Year (of Sneaker): 1993
Season(s): 5, 6
Episode(s): 90, 122
When you think about some of the brands vital to a greatest list, Airwalk isn't typically going to surface like Nike, adidas, and Reebok, but Airwalk did put out a shoe in 1993 that got a lot of love from skaters and people looking for something casual like our dude, Cory.
Episode 94 - Air Jordan XII
Air Jordan XII "Playoffs"
Year (of Sneaker): 1997
Season(s): 5
Episode(s): 94
The first Air Jordan to feature Zoom Air, which made them suitable for just about any activity, including whatever the hell Jack was doing here. One of three Jordans to get love from the iconic T.G.I.F. show, the VIIIs, IXs and XIIs are legit picks.
Episode 108 - Simple OS
Simple OS
Year (of Sneaker): 1990's
Season(s): 5, 7
Episode(s): 108, 137
Larry David wasn't the only one making comedic history in Simple OS sneakers. Shawn preferred them throughout the last few years of high school and the start of college. We can't blame him, putting in all the miles on campus you can't pick a more comfortable casual shoe.
Episode 137 - Nike Air Max Triax Plus
Nike Air Max Triax Plus
Year (of Sneaker): 1998
Season(s): 7
Episode(s): 137
Mick Foley made one of the final guest spots on the show to help the girls get a little revenge on the sexist guys. Eric even felt the wrath of Mr. Sock. The only part worse than the ass-kicking was Mick throwing his crusty kicks on someones bed. It could have been worse.