Danny Cipriani had the Cardiff spotlight stolen from him by a man England coach Brian Ashton decided wasn't good enough to play for his country.
Andy Goode, 27, and one of the Guinness Premiership's top points scorers, brought Cipriani crashing back down to earth by guiding Leicester to the EDF Trophy final.
Goode grabbed 19 points in a superb performance that earned him the Man of the Match award. He scored one superb try and created another.
Cipriani by no means took a back-seat role because the Wasps youngster scored two tries himself but his team-mates failed to follow his huge effort on a day when the Tigers pack was too strong and powerful.
Delighted Tigers boss Marcello Loffreda said: "Goode is still as good as any No.10 on his day. He was involved in so many good things and I was pleased with the way he took the game to Wasps.
"Cipriani is clearly a very talented young player but I think he would have learned something from Goode.
"I took over this club because I believe we can win trophies and now we are in a final with a very good chance of doing just that. But our main priority is still the Premiership."
Goode insisted: "I had fun out there it was one of my best performances this season but I don't think I had a point to prove to anyone.
It's about winning games and we can now win this competition."
Goode's early kick gave Tigers the lead but it was Cipriani who really started the ball rolling with a stunning try in the 23rd minute. The England flyhalf weaved his way through three tacklers to touch the ball down one-handed and lift the Wasps fans. He converted for a 7-3 lead only to see Goode's second penalty close the gap.
Wasps then surged up field 80 yards with England wing Paul Sackey scoring the first of his two tries. It was a superb break from scrum-half Eoin Reddan which set up the try.
Cipriani hit the post with his conversion but it was Leicester who went into the interval with a lead as Goode sliced through the Wasps defence taking Johne Murphy's pass and converting for a one-point advantage.
Tigers stepped on the gas after the break with Pacific Island powerhouse Seru Rabeni charging his way over the Wasps line after Dan Hipkiss and Tom Varndell broke through down the right flank. Goode converted and when he carved open the Wasps defence again moments later the writing was on the wall for the London side.
Goode chipped the ball and collected it in one motion before passing to Hipkiss who raced over the line unchallenged.
Wasps hit back with Sackey's second try only to see Italian prop Martin Castrogiovanni strolling across the try-line again unchallenged.
The last word was left to Cipriani who finished off a flowing move up the right taking Sackey's pass and crossing the line - but it was too little too late for Wasps.
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Jonathan Pearce
ALEC STEWART
THE MOLE