MAN-OF-THE-MOMENT Kevin Phillips again proved to be the Wolves tamer as his 65th-minute winner fired the buzzing Baggies to Wembley for the first time in 14 years.
Phillips' sixth goal in just three games - his fourth in as many fixtures against Wanderers this term - earned Tony Mowbray's men a 4-2 aggregate victory over their local rivals.
It was no less than Albion deserved as they produced a thoroughly-professional performance in nerve-wracking circumstances to finish off the job and book a promotion showdown with Derby in 12 days' time.
The final whistle sealed a record FOURTH win over Wolves during the same season.
And it ensured the Black Country bragging rights were well and truly Albion's, with Mowbray's men boasting a 10-3 goals return from their historic five meetings with the Molineux men this term.
The Baggies boss made one enforced change to his XI from the first leg, recalling Zoltan Gera in place of back-injury victim Richard Chaplow, while Mick McCarthy named an unchanged starting line-up.
Pre-match messages from 2001/02 promotion heroes Bob Taylor and Derek McInnes ensured the 154th - and arguably most-important ever - Black Country derby kicked off in a crackling atmosphere.
The stakes could not have been higher as both teams played for the right to take on Derby at the new Wembley for a coveted place in the Premiership.
Albion, protecting their slender 3-2 lead, attacked towards the Brummie Road End - and it was immediately an end-to-end affair.
Wolves put the Baggies backline under pressure by winning four corners inside the opening five minutes - but it was the hosts who almost fashioned the first clear opening.
Wanderers' stand-in keeper Wayne Hennessey had to be alert to race off his line and smother the ball in the nick of time before Robert Koren could connect with Gera's slick throughball.
The action swung to the other end when Albion conceded possession cheaply in the centre circle. Seyi Olofinjana swung the ball wide to the unmarked Andy Keogh who snatched at the chance, firing wastefully wide from 15 yards.
Albion were soon back on the attack when Diomansy Kamara, who collected the club's Player-of-the-Year Award before kick-off, raced clear down the left after exchanging a neat one-two with Jason Koumas.
Gera beat Jackie McNamara to the Senegal star's low cross but the Wolves left-back's sliding tackle took the sting out of the Hungarian's six-yard stab, allowing Hennessey to gather easily.
Moments later, Jody Craddock had to be just as alert to prevent ex-Sunderland team-mate Phillips stabbing Paul Robinson's dangerous cross goalwards.
There was no letup in the pace of the game as Jay Bothroyd raced back downfield, held off Chris Perry and Sam Sodje before shooting straight at Dean Kiely from an impossible angle.
The Wolves striker's momentum took him over the advertising hoardings and he was down for some considerable time before eventually rejoining the fray.
But it was Albion who went closest to snatching the lead thus far in the 21st minute.
Koumas whipped a delicious left-wing cross into the danger-zone and Phillips saw a glancing header flash just wide.
Albion had now begun to stamp real authority on proceedings and were pegging Wolves back.
From a 26th-minute short-corner routine, Kamara collected Paul McShane's pass and raced into the box before dragging his low drive wide of the near post.
On-loan centre-half Sodje then charged at the Wolves defence before slipping the ball to Gera, who took one touch before dragging a 20-yard effort wide of the far post.
But Albion were unable to keep the momentum going for the rest of the half and the goalmouth incidents suddenly dried up.
However, the atmosphere remained as boisterous as ever until referee Mark Halsey blew up for half-time.
Albion were the first to threaten after the break when Koumas jinked inside his marker and lashed a long-range effort over the bar.
Seconds later, Kamara raced into the box and saw his goalbound effort blocked in its tracks by Craddock's excellent challenge.
Koren then exchanged a neat give-and-go with Jonathan Greening to race clear down the right and Kamara came within a whisker of getting a goalscoring touch to the Slovenian star's centre.
The Albion pressure continued when Kamara teased inside Gary Breen and brought a fine diving save out of Hennessy with a 15-yard curler.
And the Baggies finally made a deserved breakthrough in the 65th minute.
Kamara fed Koren on the left who whipped in a pinpoint centre. The ball dropped perfectly over Wolves centre-half Breen for Phillips to power home a far-post header - his 22nd goal of the campaign.
The noise inside the stadium was deafening - but the Baggies almost shot themselves in the foot within 60 seconds.
Sodje didn't hear Kiely's call as he tried to cut out sub Stephen Gleeson's diagonal ball and he inadvertently directed the ball towards the empty Baggies net.
However, the Reading defender raced back to hack off the goalline in the nick of time.
Back came Albion and only Hennessy's stunning reflex save prevented Koren stabbing Kamara's low centre home from close range.
But Albion almost self destructed again when McShane's dangerous back header fed Michael Kightly.
Thankfully for the hosts, a combination of Kiely, Sodje and the recovering McShane managed to scramble the ball clear.
Bothroyd should have clawed Wolves level ten minutes from time when he lashed over from eight yards after Craddock had headed down Kightly's corner.
But Albion hit back and Hennessy again pulled off a goal-saving block to keep out Kamara after the ex-Modena marksman's neat one-two with sub Nathan Ellington had bamboozled the Wolves defence.
The chances kept coming during the dying stages. Kiely showed great alertness to nick the ball off Keogh's head after Craddock had nodded Gleeson's corner goalwards.
After Koren had fired over from the edge of the box, Wolves skipper Craddock headed Gleeson's free-kick over at the near post.
But Albion were in control and sub Sherjill MacDonald almost put the icing on the cake when he tricked Craddock before firing over from 15 yards.
The final whistle sparked scenes of unbridled joy - and a deafening chorus of 'Que Sera Sera'.
ALBION (4-4-2): Kiely; McShane, Sodje, Perry, Robinson; Gera, Koren, Greening, Koumas; Phillips (Ellington 79), Kamara (MacDonald 83). Subs not used: Daniels (gk), Clement, Carter.
WOLVES (4-4-2): Hennessey; N Collins, Breen, Craddock, McNamara (Mulgrew 77); Kightly (Ward 84), Olofinjana, Potter, McIndoe (Gleeson 59); Bothroyd, Keogh. Subs not used: Oakes (gk), Little.
GOALS: ALBION - Phillips (65).
BOOKINGS: ALBION - Kamara (unsporting behaviour 81). WOLVES - Potter (foul 38).
REFEREE: M Halsey (Lancashire).
ATTENDANCE: 27,415.
ALBION STARMAN: Robert Koren.
(PICS BY LAURIE RAMPLING)
