Switzerland's best delivered on the biggest stage at Melbourne Park, but not before a minor hiccup during his four-set win over an injured opponent.
That it was the tale of a Swiss player was familiar, yet that it was this one was not so.
Here was Wawrinka, beating a man his countryman has failed to in grand slams for the past six years and he had never got close to doing so in 12 previous meetings.
Wawrinka was the forgotten man of this final against Rafael Nadal pre-match.
Friday night's Nadal-Roger Federer semi-final was billed as not only a decider of the greatest ever, but the 2014 Australian Open champion.
But a man at the top of his game had other ideas.
There was never any doubt Wawrinka had the weapons to push Nadal, the good-looking one-handed backhand and the improving and damaging forehand.
Not forgetting the serve, which has added kick and accuracy – even off the second ball – to trouble the best.
Wawrinka came out blazing winners off both wings, coming to the net and playing to levels not even he had reached at Melbourne Park this year.
He settled the better and a nothing-to-lose attitude helped him, but here stood a man who had won 13 previous grand slams.
That 13-time winner stood on Rod Laver Arena, yet it was unclear on which side of the net.
One man took a medical timeout early in the second set, while the other sprinted from his chair at the change of ends much to the delight of the pro-underdog crowd.
With all looking lost, the wounded – nursing a back injury to go with a severely blistered hand – appeared resigned to his fate at two sets to love down.
At a couple of changes of ends, the full house held their collective breaths as the Spaniard appeared to be walking for a handshake and an early shower.
The frontrunner was rattled, perhaps wondering why 120 km/h first serves were coming his way.
That was before the medical intervention finally kicked in.
Suddenly, the underdog – and much of the crowd's love – had changed.
Suddenly, the wounded was back in the match after taking the third set.
Yet his return to power favoured the champion, who restarted hitting as hard as he had earlier in the encounter.
Wawrinka's 53rd winner sealed the grand slam title. I'm told it's his first.