American competitive eater Joey Chestnut showcased his prowess by decisively defeating Japan’s Takeru Kobayashi in a highly anticipated hot dog-eating contest streamed live on Netflix.
Competing for a grand prize of $100,000 and the title of “Greatest of All Time,” Chestnut consumed 83 hot dogs in 10 minutes, outpacing Kobayashi’s 66 in their first direct matchup in 15 years.
In a bustling venue at the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, the 40-year-old Chestnut not only won but also broke his own previous record of 76 hot dogs. He attributed his success, in part, to the competitive drive he shares with Kobayashi, stating, “I was trying to get 80 hot dogs for years, and without Kobayashi, I was never able to do it. He drives me.”
Kobayashi, 46, had retired earlier this year but returned to challenge Chestnut for redemption. After the contest, he expressed his satisfaction with his performance, saying through a translator that he “felt like I did everything I could.”
Promoted as “Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef,” the event drew parallels to legendary sports rivalries such as Mike Tyson versus Evander Holyfield, and Michael Jordan versus Larry Bird. Prior to the bout, both competitors shared their hopes that the contest would set new world records.
Chestnut, known as “Jaws,” missed this year’s July 4 contest at Nathan’s in Coney Island due to eligibility issues with event organizers Major League Eating. However, they clarified he was not banned for partnering with a competing plant-based company.
Kobayashi’s return to the spotlight was surprising. In a Netflix documentary, he expressed concerns about his health, revealing he had retired after feeling he no longer had the hunger for competition and reflecting on the toll it took on his body. Despite retiring, he stated that re-joining Chestnut for this event was meaningful for him.
Historically, Kobayashi was a dominant force in competitive eating, particularly in the Nathan’s contest during the early 2000s. The last time they competed against each other was on July 4, 2009, where Chestnut took the title with 68 hot dogs to Kobayashi’s 64½.
For the Netflix special, contestants had a challenging set of rules, including restrictions on dunking hot dogs or separating the buns from the wieners. The event on Labor Day also included other competitions, with notable victories from competitive eater Matt Stonie against Olympians in a chicken wing contest and Leah Shutkever setting a watermelon-eating record.