Is Joey Chestnut missing for this year’s National Buffalo Wing Festival? “It’s risky”

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — With the announcement that competitive eater Joey Chestnut will participate in a live hot dog eating contest on Netflix, taking place a day after the National Buffalo Wing Festival, fans are wondering if he will show up for the festival wing. eating competition.

On Wednesday, Netflix announced “Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef. The live broadcast will take place on Monday, September 2, where Chestnut will face fellow competitive eater and longtime rival Takeru Kobayashi.

Drew Cerza, the founder of the National Buffalo Wing Festival, said Friday “it’s dicey” whether Chestnut will compete in the wing-eating contest this year on News 4 Wake Up.

“We don’t really know, but you have to remember that Joey hasn’t won in four years,” Cerza said. “Miki Sudo won two years ago, James Webb won last year, so it’s going to be a great show either way because it’s really about the show.”

The announcement of the Netflix live stream follows officials’ confirmation that Chestnut will not participate in this year’s Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog competition. His absence is “due in part to a plant-based competitor” with whom he signed a new brand deal, Nexstar’s WPIX reported.

“With or without Joey, I know his heart will always be in Buffalo, so he’ll be here in spirit if he’s not here physically,” Cerza said.