Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi to Meet in Netflix-Exclusive Hot Dog Eating Contest

One of the greatest rivalries in sports will be renewed later this summer.

Netflix announced Wednesday that it will live stream a hot dog eating contest between rivals Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi on September 2. The event is dubbed “Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef.”

“In all my years in competitive eating, Kobayashi has established himself as my fiercest rival,” Chestnut said in a statement. “Competing against him pushed me to be much better. I know fans have been waiting a long time for another chapter in our rivalry and I can’t wait to see our massive showdown live on Netflix! It’s time to give the people what they want!

Chestnut holds the world record for most hot dogs eaten in a contest: 76 in 10 minutes, set during the 2021 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, an event he has won 16 times. Kobayashi dominated the competitive eating world in the early 2000s, winning the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating competition for six consecutive years, from 2001 to 2006. Chestnut finished behind Kobayashi in 2005 and 2006 before winning the event for the first time. times in 2007.

Kobayashi has not participated in the annual hot dog eating contest since 2009.

“My retirement won’t happen until I take him out one last time,” Kobayashi told Netflix. “This rivalry has been brewing for a long time. Taking on Joey live on Netflix means fans around the world can watch me knock him out.

It’s been quite a week for 40-year-old Chestnut. On Tuesday, Major League Eating announced that Chestnut was banned from participating in the 2024 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4 due to the competitive eater signing a four-year contract worth $1.2 million. dollars with Impossible Foods.

“Unfortunately, this is the decision Nathan’s and Major League Eating are making, and it will deprive die-hard fans of the usual holiday joy and fun,” Chestnut wrote on social media Tuesday. “To my fans, I love and appreciate you. Rest assured you will see me eating again soon!! STAY HUNGRY!”

Fans didn’t have to wait long for Chestnut to book his next notable eating competition.