after the 2000–01 season, tupelo was invited to be a part of the wphl-central hockey league merger. it would have set up a local rivalry with chl member, the memphis riverkings. however, the t-rex ownership refused and decided not to join the merger. their attempts to join two other pro leagues backfired when the chl invoked a non-compete clause, claiming the territorial rights to tupelo as part of the merger. with no other options, tupelo folded as a pro franchise and began as a junior team in the america west hockey league where they lasted two more seasons before folding again in 2003.