Posted on: June 13, 2024, 04:14h.
Last updated on: June 13, 2024, 04:14h.
Just hours after Joey Chestnut was shockingly disqualified from competing in the 2024 Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, an annual July 4th event held on Coney Island that he’s won a record 16 times, Netflix announced a Labor Day spectacle with the competitive eating champ and former rival Takeru Kobayashi.
This Labor Day, millions of Americans will fire up their grills and throw on some burgers and dogs. Netflix is betting big that many millions will also tune in for “Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef,” a live event that will see the two most recognizable stars in the world of competitive eating go head-to-head.
Specifics of the Monday, Sept. 2, chow-down showdown have not been released. The annual Nathan’s event tasks eaters with chomping down as many hot dogs and buns as they can within 10 minutes.
Earlier this week, Nathan’s and Major League Eating, which sanctions the annual Independence Day marvel, announced that Chestnut would not be allowed to participate next month. Nathan’s said Chestnut accepting a sponsorship deal with Impossible Foods, which manufactures and distributes plant-based hot dogs, violated its competition terms.
Chestnut Big Favorite
Kobayashi, 46, has been credited with making competitive eating a novelty sport. Born and raised in Japan, his small stature at 5’8″ and thin frame wowed millions as he won the July 4 hot dog eating contest six years in a row from 2001 through 2006.
While Kobayashi fended off the fresh-faced Chestnut in 2005 and 2006, Chestnut unseated Kobayashi as the top dog in the game in 2007. Chestnut would beat Kobayashi in 2008 and 2009 before Kobayashi called it quits.
Chestnut, 40, was born in Kentucky and studied at San Jose State University where he took an interest in eating as much as he can as quickly as he can.
Chestnut has since become the most successful competitive eater in the history of the sport. He’s won each Nathan’s event since 2007 other than the 2015 happening when Matthew Stonie squeaked by with two more dogs and buns.
For “Unfinished Beef,” offshore oddsmakers opened Chestnut at -1000 and Kobayashi the “dog” at +550. A winning $100 bet on those lines would respectively net $10 and $550.
No legal, regulated sportsbook in the U.S. is yet taking bets on Chestnut vs. Kobayashi, as more details and a governing body such as MLE to sanction the event are needed.
Chestnut Gives Praise
In announcing the Netflix eating event, Chestnut was quick to give credit to Kobayashi for bringing competitive eating mainstream — at least every July 4 holiday. During their last showdown in 2009, Chestnut won 68-64.5.
Through all of my years in competitive eating, Kobayashi stands out as my fiercest rival,” said Chestnut. “Competing against him pushed me to be so much better. I know that fans have waited a long time for another chapter of our rivalry and I can’t wait for our massive showdown live on Netflix! It’s time to give the people what they want!”
Though he hasn’t participated in Nathan’s in several years, Kobayashi says he isn’t officially retired. He says he has one final task.
“Retiring for me will only happen after I take him down one last time,” Kobayashi declared. “This rivalry has been brewing for a long time. Competing against Joey live on Netflix means fans all over the world can watch me knock him out.”
