The annual SportsRadio 94 WIP Wing Bowl is set to take place Feb. 3 at the Wells Fargo Center. Reigning champion Super Squibb will face off against one of the world's greatest eating competitors, Takeru Kobayashi. Will Super Squibb win his fourth straight Wing Bowl? Will El Wingador bounce back to claim his sixth-ever Wing Bowl title? Or will there be a new champion to crown? Here's a look at the field of 26 eaters for Wing Bowl 20:
Super Squibb - Jonathan "Super" Squibb, the reigning Wing Bowl champion, will look to become the first in history to win a fourth straight Wing Bowl title. At 6-4 and 235 pounds, the reigning champ received an automatic bid to this year's contest. After defeating El Wingador by one wing last year, 255-254, Super Squibb will have his work cut out for him.
Takeru Kobayashi - Often referred to as the greatest competitive eater of all time, Takeru Kobayashi will compete in his first Wing Bowl this year. Kobayashi, a native of Nagano, Japan, is known for winning six Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest championships. The legendary eater is no stranger to Philly. At last year's Wing Bowl, Kobayashi chomped down a cheesesteak in a world-record 24 seconds.
El Wingador - The five-time champion will look to bounce back from a devastating one-wing defeat in last year's Wing Bowl. El Wingador, standing at 6-5 and weighing in at 330 pounds, predicts a win in this year's competition but hasn't been victorious since Wing Bowl 13.
Gentleman Jerry - Gentleman Jerry hopes to win his fourth Weachter Cup – the award for the greatest, most creative entourage – in this year's competition. Hailing from Clifton Heights, Pa., Gentlemen Jerry qualified for Wing Bowl 20 by eating a 1-pound ham sandwich.
Rick the Manager - In true Wing Bowl fashion, Rick the Manager ate 6 feet, 9 inches of sushi off of Wingettes to qualify for this year's competition. The 5-10, 230-pounder just hopes to make it out of the first round and predicts that Chilita will beat U.S. Male.
Chilita - Chilita is the lone female competitor in this year's Wing Bowl. Standing at 5 feet even, she ate twice her height, or 10 feet, of sausage in less than five minutes to qualify for the event. Her goal is to advance to the final round.
The Ukraine Train - Now residing in Langhorne, Pa., The Ukraine Train gets his name from originally hailing from Kiev, Ukraine. His favorite Wing Bowl moment was when Kobayashi pounded a cheesesteak in 24 seconds last year. To qualify for Wing Bowl 20, The Ukraine Train ate eight McDonald's cheeseburgers in less than two minutes. He expects to outlast Super Squibb and Kobayashi to take the title but would be satisfied with a top-10 finish.
Freak of Nature - Freak of Nature rejoins the Wing Bowl lineup for a third consecutive year and his fourth time overall. The West Deptford, N.J., native qualified by eating four Wawa sizzlies and slurping down a half gallon of eggnog. Freak of Nature has high hopes for this year's competition. He predicts he'll take home a third straight Weachter Cup win and a Wing Bowl title.
The Rooster - The Rooster is a true old-time Wing Bowler – his favorite memory of the event is listening to the first-ever Wing Bowl in 1993. The 5-9, 200-pounder from Allentown, Pa., qualified for this year's competition by eating 2.5 pounds of Ponzio's Pot Pie in three minutes. He hopes to take home the Wing Bowl crown and avoid puking this year.
Snack Jack - Snack Jack began competitive eating at Wing Bowl 18. To qualify for this year's event, he ate five Whoopie Pies in four minutes. Snack Jack hopes to place in the top three against some hefty competition and predicts he'll ride away with the money pile.
The Monster - Hailing from Queens, N.Y., the 6-1, 210-pounder qualified for Wing Bowl by finishing the Taco Bell Drive Thru Diet in less than three minutes. He's aiming to place in the top five in the field of 26, predicting Kobayashi and Super Squibb will duel for the title (with him hopefully in third).
King Kong - He's never climbed to the top of the Empire State Building, but King Kong sure knows how to eat. He qualified for this year's event by four Burger King Whoppers in six minutes. The Kitnersville, Pa., native says if he had to choose between winning Wing Bowl or seeing the Eagles win the Super Bowl, he'd rather win Wing Bowl.
Roadhouse - The 6-6, 350-pound Roadhouse ate 3.5 pounds of creamed chipped beef to qualify for this year's Wing Bowl. Roadhouse predicts he'll scarf somewhere between 150 and 180 wings (well short of Super Squibb's 255 for last year's title). The Westmont, N.J., native set his goal to win local eaters.
Iceman - A true local boy, hailing from Philadelphia, Iceman qualified for Wing Bowl 20 by eating six pretzels (his favorite food) and slurping half a gallon of milk in seven minutes and 30 seconds. His favorite Wing Bowl moment was not blowing chunks on Wingettes. Iceman hopes to make it to the top table and win to retire a champion.
Mr 1% - Mr 1% is just happy to be competing in Wing Bowl. To qualify, the Lansdale, Pa., native ate three Five Guys double cheeseburgers in five minutes. He predicts he'll be able to advance to the second round, and his goal, ironically, is to eat healthier this year.
Elmer Fudd - Elmer Fudd is weady for wabbit hunting season – or chicken wing eating season (same difference). Hailing from Kennett Square, Pa., Elmer Fudd ate 1 pound of rabbit (of course) and 2 pounds of pasta in 10 minutes to qualify for this year's Wing Bowl. Elmer Fudd isn't terribly confident in his eating ability, predicting he'll finish dead last, but has high hopes for his entourage, setting his goal to win the Weachter Cup.
Boring John - Boring John has yet to experience his favorite Wing Bowl moment – he says it'll be when he wins. The 5-11, 280-pounder qualified for this year's contest by eating a Subway meatball footlong and a bag of chips in three-and-a-half minutes. Boring John hopes and predicts he'll finish in the top five.
Stevil Kanevil - Hailing from Pennsville, N.J., Stevil Kanevil is just as daring as his namesake – his favorite food is lightbulbs. His eating stunt to qualify for this year's event was eating a grilled cheese sandwich in one minute. The 6-2, 170-pounder set his goal to win Wing Bowl 20 and predicts it will be epic regardless of the result.
Eaterama - Eaterama is excited to be competing against the best in the business at this year's Wing Bowl. The Allentown, Pa., native qualified for Wing Bowl 20 by completing the McDonald's Challenge. Eaterama's goal for this year is to get himself a car commercial and sponsorships to pay off his college loans.
U.S. Male - Ranked No. 19 in the world by Major League Eating, U.S. Male has his sights set high for this year's contest. He's previously participated in three Wing Bowls, and to qualify for Wing Bowl 20 he ate 4 pounds of lasagna in five minutes. U.S. Male anticipates another strong finish. As he says, if you're not first, you're last.
Nick Papagorgio - Nick Papagorgio is anticipating Team Papagorgio will claim its third consecutive Weachter Cup. The 5-9, 264-pounder was the first eater to qualify for this year's competition by winning Wing Off 1 at PJ Whelihan's, which came down to a four-man overtime. He hopes to advance to the second round and predicts it will ultimately come down to Kobayashi taking down Squibb.
Hot Pockets - Hot Pockets can down a cheesesteak faster than a Hot Pocket can cook in the microwave. To qualify for this year's event he put that theory to the test, eating a cheesesteak in 44 seconds. The Abington, Pa., native joins the Wing Bowl lineup for the second time. He last competed in a Wing Bowl at the 18th annual competition.
Kenso Kevin - At 5-8, 220 pounds, Kenso Kevin joins the Wing Bowl lineup for this third straight year. He ate six peanut butter sandwiches and guzzled half a gallon of milk to qualify for this year's event.
Skin and Bones - A Philadelphia, Pa., native, Skin and Bones is no stranger to Wing Bowl. To qualify for Wing Bowl 20 he devoured two tomato pies in less than seven minutes.
Qwazy - Qwazy is set to compete in his third straight Wing Bowl after qualifying in the final PJ Whelihan's Wing Off. The Conshohocken, Pa., native says his favorite Wing Bowl moment was entering his first competition. His goal for this year is to advance to the second round.
Not Rich - Not Rich will be making his fourth consecutive appearance in Wing Bowl 20. The Philadelphia native qualified for this year's contest by slurping down 5 pounds of pineapple – peeled, of course – in three minutes and 40 seconds.