Joey Chestnut, Takeru Kobayashi to participate in Netflix hot dog eating contest

Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi are preparing to square off for the first time since 2009. The two will participate in a hot dog eating contest on Sept. 2 streamed live on Netflix, the company announced Wednesday.

The last time the two competitive eating legends went head-to-head was in the 2009 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. That was Chestnut’s third straight victory in the event after snapping Kobayashi’s six straight wins in 2007.

A year later, in 2010, Kobayashi was banned from the event due to a contract dispute and some wondered if he’d eventually retire after setting multiple records. Wednesday, in the Netflix announcement, he said he’s not ready to walk away just yet.

A rivalry simmering for 15 years.

CHESTNUT VS. KOBAYASHI: UNFINISHED BEEF — the ultimate hot dog eating competition — will air LIVE on Netflix, Monday, September 2. pic.twitter.com/MeVQP1lQuS

— Netflix (@netflix) June 12, 2024

“Retiring for me will only happen after I take him down one last time,” Kobayashi said in a statement. “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.”

Since ending Kobayashi’s run, Chestnut has won the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest 16 of the last 17 years – only losing in 2015 to Matt Stonie. News of the Netflix event comes one day after news broke of Nathan’s reported decision to ban him from this year’s hot dog eating contest after he chose to represent Impossible Foods, which is another hot dog brand. The decision generated a strong reaction on social media, and Chestnut said fans would “see me eat again soon.”

It turns out, “soon” is September, and it’ll be against one of his biggest rivals.

“Through all of my years in competitive eating, Kobayashi stands out as my fiercest rival,” Chestnut said in a statement. “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!”

As for his standing for the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July, Major League Eating released a statement confirming there was a contest coming up on Labor Day weekend – which turned out to be the Netflix event. However, the organization said it hopes he comes back “when he is not representing a rival brand.”

“We are devastated to learn that Joey Chestnut has chosen to represent a rival brand that sells plant-based hot dogs rather than competing in the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest,” a statement from Major League Eating said. “MLE and Nathan’s went to great lengths to accommodate Joey and his management team, agreeing to the appearance fee and allowing Joey to compete in a rival, unbranded hot dog eating contest on Labor Day.

“For nearly two decades we have worked under the same basic hot dog exclusivity provisions. However, it seems that Joey and his managers have prioritized a new partnership with a different brand over our long-time relationship. Joey Chestnut is an American hero. We would love nothing more than to have him at the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest.  We hope he returns when he is not representing a rival brand.”