Joey Chestnut, competitive eating legend, announced Monday that he is returning to the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest after a one-year hiatus from the annual Fourth of July event.

Joey Chestnut is returning to the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest this July 4. The competitive eater made the announcement Monday on social media.

This news is hard to swallow. Reigning Nathan’s hot dog-eating champ Patrick Bertoletti fears he may no longer be the top dog amid rumors that notorious eater Joey Chestnut might be back for the annual Coney Island contest.