Joey Chestnut, banned from Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, to compete against Takeru Kobayashi on Netflix

NEW YORK – Joey Chestnut, Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest champion who is banned from that contest this yearwill face another former champion in another location.

It will be sausage takes all.

Netflix announced that Chestnut, a record 16-time champion, will face his rival and former champion, Takeru Kobayashi, in a special set that will be broadcast live on Netflix on Labor Day. The special is called “Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: unfinished meat.”

It’s not yet known where the contest will be held, but Netflix says the two will eat all-beef hot dogs.

Why was Joey Chestnut banned

Chestnut is not competing in this year’s Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4 because of its partnership with Impossible Foods, a rival brand that sells plant-based hot dogs.

Major League Eating, which organizes the event, said they and Nathan “have gone to great lengths over the past few months to accommodate Joey and his management team,” including allowing Chestnut to compete in the Labor Day competition on Netflix.

“For nearly two decades we have worked under the same basic hot dog exclusivity provisions. However, it appears that Joey and his managers prioritized a new partnership with a different hot dog brand over our long-standing relationship,” Major League Eating said in a statement. “We hope he returns when he is not representing a rival brand.”

Chestnut disagreed with this characterization and spoke about the matter in a social media post.

“I was very disappointed to learn from the media today that, after almost 20 years, I have been banned from the Nathan’s 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. I love competing in this event, I love celebrating America with my fans across this great country on the 4th and I am training to defend my title,” Chestnut wrote. “To be clear, I am not under contract with MLE or Nathan’s and they are trying to change the rules from previous years when it comes to other partners I can work with. This is apparently the basis on which I am being banned and it does not affect the 4th of July contest.

“Unfortunately, this is the decision Nathan’s and Major League Eating are making and it will deprive big fans of the usual holiday joy and entertainment. coming soon.Stay tuned and STAY HUNGRY!” he wrote.

“We love Joey and support him in whatever contest he chooses. It’s okay to try a new dog. Meat eaters shouldn’t be exclusive to just one sausage,” an Impossible Foods spokesperson told CBS News in a communicated.

Joey Chestnut’s record

Chestnut holds the world record for eating 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes as of 2021. He has won the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest 16 times, every year since 2007, with the exception of 2015 when he lost to Matthew Stonie.

Now he is ready to face another “chompion”, Takeru Kobayashi.

In May, Kobayashi, a six-time Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest champion and longtime competitive eater, announced his retirementsaying in a statement, “I worry about the consequences of my decision, but most importantly, I want to repair my brain and gut.”

But now it appears there is still one more battle ahead. It’s been 15 years since the two faced off in a hot dog eating competition. In 2009, Chestnut defeated Kobayashi to retain the coveted Mustard Yellow belt.

“For me, retirement will only happen after I take him down for the last time,” Kobayashi said. “This rivalry has been brewing for a long time.”

“Throughout all my years of competitive eating, Kobayashi has stood out as my fiercest rival,” Chestnut said. “Competing against him has pushed me to be so much better. I know the fans have waited a long time for another chapter of our rivalry and I can’t wait for our big showdown live on Netflix! It’s time to give the people what they want!”