When Wrestling Gets Tough: Joaquin Ripa’s Big Moment
Let’s just say things got a little intense on the mat for Kelly Ripa’s youngest son, Joaquin. During a recent episode of Live! With Kelly & Ryan, Kelly opened up about her 16-year-old son's wrestling match at the Mayor’s Cup in New York City. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t all smooth sailing, but Joaquin pulled through with a win despite the drama.
According to Kelly, Joaquin was going head-to-head with one of his “good buddies” when things took a turn. "He took a knee to the nose," Kelly, 49, recounted to cohost Ryan Seacrest and the show’s viewers. Even though it was a tough hit, Joaquin managed to keep his composure—at least at first. Kelly joked that she and husband Mark Consuelos were sitting courtside, completely unaware of how serious the injury might be.
When Things Got Serious: The Parents’ Perspective
At first, Kelly and Mark thought Joaquin was just exaggerating. "From our point of view, it looked like he got poked in the eye," Kelly admitted. "I was like, 'I get it, that hurts, sometimes your eye won’t open.' But we were like, 'OK, Joaquin. For heaven’s sake, pull yourself together.'" She even joked that Joaquin was putting on a bit of a performance, noting, "See? He’s an actor!"
Read also:Morgan Freemans Gloved Hand The Story Behind The Iconic Accessory
But then, things got real. "I was like, 'What is going on?'" Kelly recalled. "I tried to zoom in on my cell phone, but even that I’m not really seeing much. And then they’re rubbing him. We’re still on the stands. And we’re like, 'What? Why are they rubbing him?' What we don’t know that we can’t see is that he’s bleeding and they’re wiping the blood off of him." It was a moment of panic for the proud parents, who have been married since 1998 and also share kids Michael, 22, and Lola, 18.
A Win Against All Odds
Despite the setback, Joaquin wasn’t about to let the injury stop him. After receiving medical attention, he returned to the mat and secured the victory. Kelly proudly revealed that this win marked Joaquin’s first triumph after two previous losses, according to the world cup’s website. "You win some, you lose some and sometimes you get a tampon shoved up your nose," Kelly joked in an Instagram post, sharing adorable photos of Joaquin smiling with friends after the match.
It’s moments like these that remind us of the resilience and determination young athletes bring to the table. Here’s to hoping Joaquin feels back to 100% soon and continues to make his family proud!
