Joey Chestnut displayed remarkable prowess by consuming a world record 83 hot dogs during the Netflix special “Unfinished Beef,” which took place on Labor Day. This event featured a high-profile competition against his rival Takeru Kobayashi, who struggled to keep pace with Chestnut.
Following the format of the renowned Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, New York, the two competitors had just 10 minutes to eat as many hot dogs as possible. The production team prepared 300 hot dogs for the live-streamed event at the Hyper X Arena in Las Vegas, as reported by host Rob Riggle.
Participants were restricted from dunking or pouring water on the hot dogs or separating the franks from their buns, with penalties imposed for excessive crumbs and any regurgitation. While Kobayashi managed to eat 67 hot dogs, Chestnut surpassed his own previous record of 76, which he set during the 2021 Nathan’s contest.
After his victory, Chestnut acknowledged Kobayashi’s influence on his performance, stating, “I’ve been trying to hit 80 hot dogs for years. Without Kobayashi, I was never able to do it. He drives me. We weren’t always nice to each other, but I love what he can do. We push each other to be our best.”
Kobayashi, who announced his retirement from competitive eating earlier this year via the Netflix documentary “Hack Your Health: Secrets of Your Gut,” responded through an interpreter, saying, “I feel like I did everything I could.” The Japanese competitor held the Nathan’s title from 2001 to 2006 before Chestnut dominated the scene with 16 wins in 17 years. This year, Chestnut was banned from the Nathan’s contest due to a deal with Impossible Foods, resulting in him forfeiting the coveted “Mustard Belt” to Patrick Bertoletti.
Looking ahead, Netflix has scheduled its next live event featuring Jake Paul in a boxing match against Mike Tyson at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.