Netflix Sets Live Hot Dog Eating Competition To Settle Rivalry

By Britta DeVore | Updated

With summer approaching and the smell of grills wafting through the air, Netflix has decided that it’s time to give two rivals a chance to settle their beef in the good old-fashioned way of a hot dog-eating competition. Continuing its break into the world live events, the streamer announced that two Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating contestants, Joey Chestnut, and Takeru Kobayashi, will go head-to-head on Labor Day, September 2, in a challenge that will see the hungriest man come out on top.

Titled Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef, the competition will settle the dispute of the greatest hot dog eater of all time – or at least of this year.

The Next Netflix Live Event

As of right now, no specific time or location for Netflix’s royal rumble of hot dog-eating matches has been announced but we could definitely see things kicking off in a sunny location – perhaps even at Coney Island where the Nathan’s event started it all.

Speaking of Nathan’s, the duo of competitors has already sat side-by-side at the brand’s 2009 event, with Chestnut pulling ahead to beat Kobayashi in a five-hot dog sudden death eat-off. That means the stakes for Netflix’s hot dog-eating showdown are that much higher as the pair shares a sordid history in this dog-eat-dog world. 

A Decades-Long Feud

Champion doesn’t even begin to cover it when we dive into one of Netflix’s hot dog-eating contenders as Chestnut has proven himself as the king of beef after receiving gold at Nathan’s a whopping 16 times, with the last eight years winning one after another.

But, after turning his back on the world of real American meat and signing a sponsorship agreement with Impossible Foods, Chestnut was banned from participating in this year’s quickly upcoming festivities. Still, this could be seen as a good thing for the other challengers as now a new champion will rise from the charcoal ashes.

Kobayashi Has Worked With Netflix Before

This won’t be Kobayashi’s first time partnering with Netflix on a project, as the hot dog slammer previously appeared in the documentary Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut. As many know, the key to jamming so many hot dogs down your gullet is all about making your stomach bigger, a trick that many contenders, including Kobayashi and Chestnut, have achieved.

His appearance on the project was set to mark the end of the road for the six-times Nathan’s winner as he planned to retire from the world of competitive eating. But who can turn down a chance at besting your rival?

The Challenge Is Set For Labor Day

Although Labor Day is still a few months away, with Kobayashi and Chestnut having plenty of time to train their stomachs for the big showdown, they’re both already talking trash about this pivotal moment in their careers. We’ve seen boxers go at it, staring one another down at their weigh-ins and keeping the insults flying, but we can’t wait to follow the jabs that the two competitors will share with one another during the days leading up to their Netflix hot dog eating challenge.

Netflix’s Million-Dollar Gamble

This year has been all about growth for Netflix, as, along with the hot dog-eating battle, the streamer is trying to bring subscribers to other live events. Of the more looked-forward-to titles coming up, boxers Jake Paul and Mike Tyson will climb into the ring in December, and football fans will be able to stream two NFL games this season. Stay tuned for the specific details of when you can catch Unfinished Beef on Netflix.