Methods and apparatus that seek to increase the diversity seen in wireless communication systems by intelligently implementing a joint multi-dimensional permutation approach. In an exemplary embodiment, this is accomplished by combining the permutation of various transmitter antennas, various data streams (for example, in a MIMO configuration) and various constellation-bit mappings into a coherent multi-dimensional permutation scheme. Subsequent retransmissions in combination with an initial transmission are utilized to obtain substantial signal flattening at a receiver which increases the likelihood that retransmissions that follow detected errors will successfully convey the transmitted data to the receiver. Both open and closed-loop approaches are contemplated which take advantage of the multi-dimensional permutation schemes. In addition, embodiments utilized in the context of retransmission mechanisms such as HARQ are also contemplated.