Joey Chestnut has won 15 championship titles at the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. He won his 7th title in a row on Monday, eating 63 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. Although Chestnut beat his closest opponent by 20 hot dogs, the 2022 competition appeared to be his most challenging yet.

Chestnut's hot dog tally was 17 when a protestor bumped him away from the table. The masked person, allegedly an animal rights activist, held up a sign that read “Expose Smithfield Deathstar.” Chestnut wasted no time in defending his title, taking the protestor down with the help of MC George Shea. Not to mention, Chestnut was on crutches due to a ruptured tendon in his leg.

Chestnut joined the Pat MacAfee Show on Tuesday and explained what went through his mind during the chaos.

“George Shea, he had a big role in it. But, it was reaction, just natural instincts,” Chestnut said. “I thought somebody fell into me at first. I didn't know it was a protestor until I saw the mask, and then it just happened. I wanted to get back into eating.”

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The 15-time champion then explained what happened immediately after he took the protestor down and continued to guzzle down hot dogs.

“He was on the ground not too far away. He just curled up into a ball. As soon as I grabbed him I realized he was a kid…He was vegan so he was really skinny,” Chestnut said.

Following the chaos, he went on to eat 46 more hot dogs and earn the championship title. Unfortunately, the competitive eating legend was unable to break the record of 76 hot dogs and buns, which he set at the 2021 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.