There was plenty of rain — but not enough to rain on the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest parade.
In a display of American perseverance, the show had to go on. Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo continued their dominance over fellow jaws and eaters everywhere, but it didn’t come without controversy and drama.
MORE: What happens inside an eater's body after the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest?
Sudo started the festivities on Coney Island by capturing her ninth belt by consuming 39-and-a-half hot dogs and buns — staving off challenger Mayoi Ebihara in a dramatic finish.
The women’s contest required an official plate count in a race that was initially too close to call. But long after Sudo, Ebihara and internet sensation Elizabeth “Glizzy Lizzy” Salgado left the stage — storms ruled the Coney Island sky.
Spectators, competitors and reporters who relished the chance to be on the corner of Surf and Stillwell were caught in a confusing twist as reports surfaced saying the men’s contest was canceled. But the crowd remained and the contest went on — two hours later than scheduled.
Gray skies cleared up and, as usual, no one could "ketchup" to Chestnut who was unaffected by the delay. He managed to scoff down 62 hot dogs and buns, claiming another Mustard Belt in a competition he’s helped put on the map.
MORE: Watch the 2023 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest live on Fubo (free trial)
Chestnut told ESPN following the contest, "We were told it was canceled. We weren't sure if we were gonna eat today."
He later concluded the interview by saying he'd be on a liquid diet tonight. Heat and humidity might've hurt the final numbers, but America's eaters wouldn't be denied.
The Sporting News tracked live results from Tuesday's hot dog eating contest.
Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest 2023 results, winners
(All times Eastern)
2:58 p.m. — Here are the full results from the men's contest.
2:28 p.m. — AND THERE'S THE BUZZER! Joey Chestnut downs 62 hot dogs and buns. He is victorious again for an eighth straight year!
2:27 p.m. — One minute to go! Chestnut can rest for the final 60 seconds and still win. A true dynasty on the Nathan's stage.
2:26 p.m. — Two minute warning! Chestnut's pace has slowed and the chance for a record is fading. Still, he's dominating the competition, as usual.
2:25 p.m. — Three minutes on the clock. An extra hungry Chestnut has scoffed down 50.
2:23 p.m. — Halfway home. Chestnut is on pace for a whopping 80 hot dogs. We might have a record breaking performance on our hands.
2:22 p.m. — After four minutes, Chestnut is up to 35 and might clear out Nathan's stock by the time he's finished.
2:20 p.m. — Two minutes in and Chestnut will not be denied. He's up to 20 hot dogs and buns.
2:18 p.m. — And here we go. 10 minutes on the clock and the time starts — NOW!
2:18 p.m. — If you're on stage competing against Chestnut, good luck.
2:15 p.m. — One commercial break separates Chestnut and many plates of hot dogs.
2:12 p.m. — It's time.
2:04 p.m. — We are not messing around on Coney Island. Introductions are underway and the contest will begin shortly. It's go time.
2 p.m. — Get to a screen. Coverage is finally live on ESPN2 and the buildup to Chestnut's entry is underway.
1:56 p.m. — ESPN PR has confirmed the reports. Get those grills ready.
1:54 p.m. — The stage is literally being set for the contest to begin, after crews started to operate as though cancelation was imminent.
1:46 p.m. — ESPN has announced that coverage of the contest begins at 2 p.m. ET. It's almost eating time!
1:45 p.m. — Will the show go on? According to CBS Sports, "Despite reports of the contest being canceled, NYPD media relations has told CBS Sports that as of 1:25 p.m. the department as not cancelled the contest and it's still in a weather related delay."
1:39 p.m. — If there was any doubt that Joey Chestnut still wants to compete, look no further. He's locked in and doesn't want to allow a thunderstorm to ruin the party on Coney Island.
1:35 p.m. — Meanwhile, MLE is still refusing to give any definitive information on the state of the contest. They are instead sharing video of Chestnut greeting the fans.
1:34 p.m. — Conflicting reports continue to surface as New York Times' reporter Liam Stack says security is saying the contest has been canceled.
1:15 p.m. — Still no confirmation from MLE, but Joey Chestnut and Badlands Booker are still hanging out during the storm.
1:05 p.m. — If the event has been canceled, Badlands Booker sure doesn't seem disappointed. The lemonade chugging must go on!
12:59 p.m. — ABC New York is reporting the men's contest has been canceled by the NYPD due to storms. Major League Eating or ESPN haven't confirmed the report.
12:46 p.m. — Here's a look at the current weather on Coney Island, with fans taking cover from the downpours.
12:39 p.m. — Elsewhere in New York, the Yankees aren't planning to have first pitch at 1:05 p.m. ET as previously scheduled. We might be here for a while.
12:28 p.m. — Storms are persisting on Coney Island with some heavy rain and lightning in the area. Eventually, the weather will clear and hot dogs will be eaten.
12:11 p.m. — Here's a look at the banner of doom that is appearing on screens across the country.
12:08 p.m. — As the weather delay continues, here's the full results from the women's contest earlier. For those curious, "Glizzy Lizzy" finished with four-and-a-quarter hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.
12 p.m. — Viewers hoping to watch Joey Chestnut dominate the competition will have to wait a little longer. We are in a lightning delay on Coney Island.
11:55 a.m. — We are five minutes away from the start of the live coverage on ESPN so let's look back on last year's contest. Dealing with a leg injury, Chestnut wrestled a protestor and still won convincingly.
11:50 a.m. — Ever wonder how Chestnut's championships stack up against the other sports? Wonder no more, thanks to this handy-dandy chart.
11:45 a.m. — Can Chestnut break the record he set in 2021? A quick look at the BetMGM odds says it's unlikely. If you are a believer though, a $100 bet can net you another $250. Conditions are reportedly brutal though, with the heat and humidity making life difficult. We'll see if Chestnut can also defeat Mother Nature.
11:40 a.m. — As we shift our attention to the men's competition, here's a look at the business side to Chestnut. Interestingly enough, he once secured an endorsement deal with Pepto Bismol, a fitting partnership.
11:23 a.m. — The women's competition is now in the history books as Coney Island will get set for Joey Chestnut to grace the stage at noon. Stay tuned.
11:14 a.m. — THERE WILL BE NO BELT BUSTER! After an official count, Sudo finished with 39-and-one-half hot dogs and buns — six more than Ebihara. She put forth a fantastic effort and definitely challenged the champion. A ninth belt for Sudo!
11:12 a.m. — The judges are going through the plates to get the final count. Each plate holds five hot dogs. Drama!
11:10 a.m. — AND THERE'S THE TIME! We'll need an official count to determine a winner. She's up by one on the unofficial count. Stay tuned.
11:09 a.m. — ONE MINUTE TO GO! Can Sudo hang on?
11:08 a.m. — Two minutes and Ebihara is back! We are in for a big finish!
11:07 a.m. — Coming down the stretch and Sudo is up three over a potentially fading Ebihara. Quite the challenge put forward by the Japanese entrant.
11:06 a.m. — And here comes Sudo! She's turned it on and will worry about the sickness later. For now, it's time to win a ninth belt.
11:05 a.m. — Ebihara has surpassed Sudo about halfway through and dancing the entire time! Madness at Surf and Stillwell!
11:02 a.m. — Two minutes in and Sudo is nine hot dogs in, but Mayoi Ebihara is dog-for-dog with her. Can an upset be brewing in Coney Island?
11 a.m. — 10 minutes on the clock. THE. EATING. STARTS. NOW.
10:59 a.m. — Sudo might be the favorite, but best nickname goes to Elizabeth "Glizzy Lizzy" Salgado. If they received points for names, then Salgado would be the frontrunner.
MORE: Why is a hot dog called a glizzy? Meaning, origin of term used at Nathan's hot dog eating contest
10:56 a.m. — Intros are wrapping up and the suspense is building on Surf and Stillwell. Sudo is here and we are ready to go!
10:45 a.m. — Coverage is beginning now on ESPN3, so there is still time to catch this hype video that'll have you running to the hot dog section at the local supermarket.
10:42 a.m. — And here are today's competitors. Their stomachs are probably feeling a lot better at the moment.
10:41 a.m. — Get a look at some of the walk-ins and the party bus from this morning for the Super Bowl of the eating world.
10:40 a.m. — If you missed the weigh in yesterday, here's a clip to catch you up to speed. The weather concerns appear to have vanished now, so prime eating conditions await the competitors in Coney Island.
10:35 a.m. — We are 10 minutes away from the start of the eating extravaganza. Miki Sudo will eat first as her and Joey Chestnut are overwhelming favorites to retain their titles — as evidenced by our friends at BetMGM.
What time is the Hot Dog Eating Contest today?
- Start time: 10:45 a.m. ET (Men's contest begins at 2 p.m. ET)
- TV channel: ESPN2
- Live stream: ESPN3, ESPN+ | Fubo
Live coverage from Coney Island in Brooklyn, N.Y. begins at 10:45 a.m. ET on ESPN3 for the women's competition — headlined by Sudo. Then Chestnut and friends take the stage in the shadows of the famous Cyclone roller coaster.
MORE: Full list of Joey Chestnut's 55 competitive eating world records
Following a length weather delay, the men's contest is set to get underway at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Streamers hoping to watch the festivities can catch it on ESPN+ — which will have dedicated cameras on Chestnut and Sudo — or Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Hot Dog Eating Contest TV schedule 2023
If you want to watch the contest live, then ESPN3 and ESPN2 are the place to be. But don't worry, ESPNews, ESPN and ESPN2 will have replays of the event all day long.
| Event | Time (ET) | TV channel/Live stream |
| Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest (Women's) | 10:45 a.m. | ESPN3 |
| Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest (Men's) | Noon ET | ESPN2, Fubo |
| Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest (Re-air) | 2 p.m. | ESPNews, Fubo |
| Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest (Re-air) | 5 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
| Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest (Re-air) | 6 p.m. | ESPNews, Fubo |
| Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest (Re-air) | 7 p.m. | ESPN2, Fubo |
| Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest (Re-air) | 11:30 p.m. | ESPN2, Fubo |