Wasps enjoyed a successful house-warming party at their new Wycombe home - but they needed a penalty try in the final minutes of injury time to deny battling Bristol victory.
The Shoguns looked to have gatecrashed Wasps' big day as they led 35-31 with just seconds remaining after their Argentine fly-half Felipe Contepomi scored 30 points.
But Contepomi then turned villain when he dived on the ball from an offside position to prevent Wasps scoring what seemed a certain try, and referee Roy Maybank had no hesitation in blowing his whistle and running between the posts.
Fly-half Alex King slotted the simple conversion, and a relieved Wasps outfit were home and dry, securing a bonus point in the process.
Bristol also gained a bonus as they finished within seven points of their conquerors, but that will provide scant consolation.
A crowd of just over 7,000 witnessed Wasps' first Zurich Premiership game at Adams Park, and they were not disappointed by a match that saw the lead change hands nine times.
Contepomi led the way for Bristol, booting seven penalties and two conversions, while also claiming a 60-metre interception try when he collected King's stray pass.
Bristol showed a vast improvement on their performance against Saracens a week ago, but Wasps managed to stay in contention even though they conceded numerous penalties, much to the annoyance of their skipper, Lawrence Dallaglio.
Contepomi opened the scoring with an early penalty, but Wasps scored from their first attack when the forward drove towards Bristol's line and hooker Trevor Leota stretched just far enough to touch down.
Bristol though, took just three minutes to hit back with a try created superbly by Contepomi.
His clever break shredded the Wasps' defence, and full-back Lee Best was able to sprint over unopposed, with Contepomi converting.
King, who finished with 18 points, struck a long-range penalty before Wasps had centre Mark Denney sin-binned for not releasing possession. Contepomi failed to land the resulting penalty, yet he made amends just six minutes later.
King's optimistic midfield pass went straight to the Argentinian and he had enough pace to sprint away from the back-tracking Wasps cover.
At 17-8 ahead, Bristol looked to be well in charge, but Wasps collected their second try five minutes before the break when centre Stuart Abbott rounded off a flowing move.
King's conversion brought Wasps to within two points, and then another King penalty gave the home side a one point half time lead after Best was yellow-carded.
Contepomi took charge during the third quarter, landing three penalties during a nine-minute spell, yet Bristol critically could not put enough distance between themselves and Wasps on the scoreboard.
King's third penalty maintained the excitement before Wasps' six-figure star summer signing Rob Howley darted clear and put the supporting Dallaglio over for a try which King improved.
The lead continued to change hands at a frantic pace.
With Contepomi and King exchanging further penalties as the clock continued to tick down, the lead changed hands at a frantic pace, but in the 77th minute, another Contepomi penalty looked to have done the trick for Bristol.
Wasps were now four points adrift and running out of ideas in their attempts to salvage something, yet they got there thanks to Contepomi and referee Maybank's decision.
Contepomi looked to have few complaints with the penalty try award, and after King slotted the conversion a rollercoaster clash had finally found a winner.
Teams
Wasps: Lewsey, Roiser, Abbott, Denney, Logan, A. King, Howley, Molloy, Leota, W. Green, Shaw, Birkett, Worsley, Volley, Dallaglio.
Not Used: Biljon, Greening, Rudd, Wigran, Dowd, Beardshaw,
McCarthy.
Tries: Leota, Abbott, Dallaglio, Penalty.
Cons: A. King 3. Pens: A. King 4.
Bristol: Best, Daniel, Rees, Shaw, Christophers, Contepomi, Pichot, Crompton, Nelson, White, Archer, A. Brown, Sturnham, Lipman, Beattie.
Not Used: Rowland, E. Bergamaschi, Sheridan, Salter, Johnstone, Richards, Drahm.
Tries: Best, Contepomi.
Cons: Contepomi 2.
Pens: Contepomi 7.
Att: 7,171
Ref: Roy Maybank (RFU).
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